The Manager - Edition 45 - Name on a task - by Rob Lambert
Cultivated Management Newsletter
Hi,
I hope you've had a good weekend and are looking forward to the week ahead.
I've been working on a project recently where I'm working across many functional boundaries. This crosses project, product etc - and as usual, the customer suffers because of this. There is more time spent planning, breaking down work, rebuilding work, talking about work, talking to the customer about work and time in meetings - than time actually spent doing any useful or productive work.
But the one thing that stands out is that some people in these functions don't really do ANY of the solution building at all - they "manage" work. It's an illusion of control. And for some of these people the only reason they want a name and a date against a task is so they know who to blame when the date is missed or slips. It's not about actually getting the customer what they want - it's about blaming people.
And who loses in this? Almost everyone, but especially the customer who is clearly spending their hard earned cash with the wrong customer.
Unless everyone is aligned around solving problems rather than blaming others, you'll always find it hard to build the right culture for those in your team. Do keep trying though - I know I certainly am.
Good luck
Rob
Stuff To Click On :
1 - Less than 1% of people are out to stop progress and cause problems. Hmmm. Not sure I agree - reckon I must have been unlucky in some gigs to have them all in the same place.
2 - What not to do. Ignore customers and those asking questions. Feedback about our products and services should be considered and followed up with. Of course, not every customer is always right.
3 - 4 Questions every leader should ask. Oh yes indeed - and this is remarkably similar to my very own "Releasing Agility" approach to building engaged teams. I really wish more managers and leaders would ask this.
1. DOES EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE UNDERSTAND WHERE THE COMPANY IS HEADING?
2. DO EMPLOYEES UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR WORK CONTRIBUTES TO LARGER OBJECTIVES?
3. DO MY EMPLOYEES FEEL VALUED?
4. AM I SETTING MY EMPLOYEES UP FOR A THRIVING FUTURE?
4 - How to work with the automation of our lives. As computers come in and do more of our every day work - will we still be needed in the future?
5 - Take your kid to work. The theory being that if they see what is important to you at work they will learn. The problem is I can't help but see so many people going through the motions of work. Do we all really enjoy work? And do we really stand up for the things we really believe in?
6 - I need this. How to get comfortable in your chair at home or work if you have back problems.
Thanks for reading this week's edition of The Manager.
Thanks
Rob..