YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
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|ret|Tim McGuire is a past president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors and former editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He writes about workplace issues.
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|ret|The letter writer wanted to know how to deal with a |quot|control freak|quot| manager who has a |quot|my way or the highway|quot| approach to leadership. But the letter writer was concerned that I not include any details because the manager would retaliate.
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|ret|I had to laugh, not at the writer, but at the idea she would be recognized. There should be little fear of retaliation because that description fits about a zillion bosses, and I constantly hear the same complaint from all parts of the country.
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|ret|Prophetic work
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|ret|Last week I talked about |quot|prophetic work,|quot| the concept of speaking out for what the worker believes is right. My letter writer says she |quot|wants to improve things for her fellow workers and the public the department serves,|quot| but she is intimidated about raising issues because, |quot|I'm the bad guy ... I just rock the boat and ask too many questions.|quot|
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|ret|I admitted last week that I was a boat-rocker in the workplace. Sometimes it was the noble and valuable thing to do. I am proud of some of the things my company did and didn't do because I spoke up. At other times, I behaved like an obstreperous jerk and caused more problems than I solved. I've thought a lot about that dichotomy, and I've tried to articulate what worked and what didn't.
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|ret|Six points to remember
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|ret|Here are six things I believe would have made me a more effective work prophet:
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|ret|1. Start with yourself. Examine your own motives for wanting to speak out. You could simply be jealous of the boss or even power hungry. If you're just angry you're not the boss, then that will be obvious to everyone. And you'll lose.
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|ret|You also have to be certain that your problems with the boss are not simply ideological that is your company believes in doing things one way and you believe in doing them another. There is absolutely no mileage in picking fights over subjective issues. You also have to be sure you've checked your self-interest at the door. If you're trying to dominate center stage or avoid work for yourself or your team, you're going to get nailed.
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|ret|2. Make sure the issues you advocate are values-based, such as customer service issues, ethical challenges, the golden rule, quality of the work produced, quality of the workplace, health of the franchise and the public service mission of the company. Don't battle over the color of the drapes. If your issues don't relate to the core values of the company, stop and ask yourself if it's really worth the fight.
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|ret|3. Build, don't destroy. Shed that negative destructive attitude and language such as |quot|that will never work,|quot| or |quot|this company always does stupid things like that.|quot| Those kinds of phrases are bound to doom any work conversation. Be constructive.
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|ret|4. Enhance the self-esteem of others. Don't be insincere, but concentrate on catching bosses and peers doing and saying good things. Remove contention by carefully listening to what other people say. Then make their comments part of your solution.
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|ret|5. Be straightforward without being judgmental. Be direct but don't load up your argument with a snotty tone, condescension or the expectation that people are going to unload on you. Be clear, even if it requires considerable preparation. A murky point is easy to reject. It is crucial to keep anger and tension out of your voice. Remember, you are trying to make things better. I wish I could have done all that more often.
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|ret|6. Make your suggestions specific, actionable and manageable. Too often we try to fix all the problems of the world in one meeting. I am fond of using a Mount Kilimanjaro analogy. People climb that formidable mountain by going to one of several way stations, resting, adjusting to the altitude and checking supplies before they forge ahead. Our solutions to workplace problems need to be just as compact, precise and realistic.
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|ret|I believe my letter writer will find dealing with her boss and peers more rewarding if she follows rules like these. I wish I used these steps more often than I did.
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|ret|Tip for your search
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|ret|Focus on my second point above. List all the things that bug you about your company. Now figure out what issues are really values-based and which ones simply involve your opinion about how things ought to be done.
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|ret|Concentrate your thinking on those values-based issues. It will make you a better, more fulfilled worker no matter your rank in the company.
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|ret|[[In-content Ad]]
Springfield event venue Belamour LLC gained new ownership; The Wok on West Bypass opened; and Hawk Barber & Shop closed on a business purchase that expanded its footprint to Ozark.