Memo to junior mgrs whose pretentions exceed their ability
Discussion
1) If you need someone to explain what’s going on, LISTEN to them, even if they are in someone else’s team, even if they are junior to you or you think they should be. Don’t interrupt every time you don’t immediately see the relevance of what they are telling you, don’t just ask questions about factors you are already aware of and refuse to listen to anything else. Just because you weren’t aware of a certain factor so didn’t ask about it doesn’t mean it isn’t relevant. If you insist on asking leading questions like ‘Did so and so find any problems when they tried it?’ then remember the bit of the answer after the word ‘but’ is not pointless waffle, it’s probably the most important part of the answer.
2) If half an hour after refusing to listen to someone, you find you have jumped to all the wrong conclusions, don’t start whingeing to me that my team didn’t give you the full facts so it’s their fault you are confused.
3) When your interference wastes time at best and probably makes things worse, it is no excuse for you to say ‘well I don’t know what’s going on’, that’s exactly why you shouldn’t have interfered.
zippy3x said:
Not quite sure why you felt the need to add the word "junior"
The one I had in mind is junior. But yes it should apply to everyone, though generally it's an issue with wannabees, genuinely senior people are usually good listeners. I've sometimes advised new managers to watch the partners meeting scene in Margin call as an example of how to deal with a crisis.Dr Jekyll said:
The one I had in mind is junior. But yes it should apply to everyone, though generally it's an issue with wannabees, genuinely senior people are usually good listeners. I've sometimes advised new managers to watch the partners meeting scene in Margin call as an example of how to deal with a crisis.
What, to panic, screw everyone else in the world over, spark a global financial crisis, sack the person least responsible and then blame it all on "it's just the way it is"yeah, actually thinking about it, that checks out.
zippy3x said:
Dr Jekyll said:
The one I had in mind is junior. But yes it should apply to everyone, though generally it's an issue with wannabees, genuinely senior people are usually good listeners. I've sometimes advised new managers to watch the partners meeting scene in Margin call as an example of how to deal with a crisis.
What, to panic, screw everyone else in the world over, spark a global financial crisis, sack the person least responsible and then blame it all on "it's just the way it is"yeah, actually thinking about it, that checks out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhy7JUinlu0
I walked into my now old job one morning, went up for a coffee and came down to hear this high pitched whiney voice dishing out orders.
Ask a workmate who that was and his reply was 'you'll know soon enough'. This 24 year old man child then approaches me and with no introduction at all say's "can you do this, that and the other by 12pm" I'd already complied a list of things and told him, that's not my department I've my weeks work organised.
"That's not what I ask" came the reply. To which I replied "NO, is that what you wanted to here"
This kid had literally worked for Daddies company as a manager followed by 10 different managerial roles in about 4 years. He hadn't a clue how to speak to people, he seemed to think he was still at the family firm. He lasted a three weeks most of which he was locked in his office.
Moral of the story is that I managers job is more than dishing out orders and if all you can do is bark then you quickly get found out and moved on.
Ask a workmate who that was and his reply was 'you'll know soon enough'. This 24 year old man child then approaches me and with no introduction at all say's "can you do this, that and the other by 12pm" I'd already complied a list of things and told him, that's not my department I've my weeks work organised.
"That's not what I ask" came the reply. To which I replied "NO, is that what you wanted to here"
This kid had literally worked for Daddies company as a manager followed by 10 different managerial roles in about 4 years. He hadn't a clue how to speak to people, he seemed to think he was still at the family firm. He lasted a three weeks most of which he was locked in his office.
Moral of the story is that I managers job is more than dishing out orders and if all you can do is bark then you quickly get found out and moved on.
holes - it's a learning curve for both. Mr Miata said:
4) Dont have an open forum or a question and answer session on the shop floor when the management have no intention to solve the companies problems. Especially when the same problems have been known about for years but nothings changed.
I've had exactly that this week. Sounds like you work where I do!WelshPetrolhead said:
Mr Miata said:
4) Dont have an open forum or a question and answer session on the shop floor when the management have no intention to solve the companies problems. Especially when the same problems have been known about for years but nothings changed.
I've had exactly that this week. Sounds like you work where I do!Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff