http://www.businessweek.com/management/humble-yourself-at-work-10252011.html
In a recent article published by Bloomberg Business Week, writer Pat Lencioni speaks openly about one issue that seems to elude many of the business elite, that is remaining humble.
Lencioni talks of managers seeing unsavory or unsatisfactory behavior in the workplace but instead of confronting the problem head on and "straight talking" those that are not up to snuff, we often complain to others just perpetuating the issue. If we are hearing complaints and then just complaining about those complaints, aren't we practicing the same actions that frustrate us so much? It is important to remember that while scolding others is never the most positive feeling, it is a necessary evil.
Unfortunately it is the way that managers go about having conversations about performance that often is what leaves both employer and employee feeling that pit in their stomach once the talk is over. Using negative language or "fighting words", either on purpose or by accident may have something to do with this sick to your stomach feeling. In class we discussed how words that you may never think would create walls in fact build them right up. Saying things like "You did this" or "Calm down" only make the situation more stressful and puts both sides on the defensive.
As Lencioni continues to assert, while we don't always like to have these talks with employees it is time for managers to take a good hard look in the mirror and realize they are mimicking these actions. If managers are not able to have a positive and constructive conversation with employees than they really have no business complaining about their complaints.
-Amanda Inman
i enjoyed this story. I think things like this happen more outside of a business than it does inside. It reminds me of people who gossip about other peoples problems. Its not right just to talk about peoples mistakes and flaws behind their back. If something needs to be changed for the good I think that someone should come out with it to help everyone out.
ReplyDeleteI had to do an interview with a manager for another class this semester on workplace civility. She said that gossip and complaining is so prevalent in the workplace. She said that talking and not acting causes more problems then the original problem itself.
ReplyDeleteTrevor Goggin