Work Thoughts by the Boss
I found out today at work that some folks I work with for were not diligent in their responsibilities. As result I may have to write up $300k in assets on my watch. The fact that I'm writing them up isn't really any better. It just means the system broke in my favor, but the system is still broken. When asked how a thing like this could happen the response I received was, "I just did what I was shown to do." I rarely use the word lazy, but it applies here.
Employees hate it when I ask a million questions. I do it because every responsibility is a liability. It requires vigilance to fulfill the responsibility well. If one doesn't act well their part, one suffers. In my case, because I run the place, I worry that I will suffer for someone else's lack of vigilance. What I want to know is how can you help others to be vigilant without grilling them with a million questions and yet insure that vigilance is achieved? The only method I have in my toolbox today is the million questions tool. Can that really be the best way?
update: There is another tool, we also track metrics that are not outputs, but inputs. If you track inputs you should be able to predict the outputs. What happened in the above case is that accountability was completely missing and the reported numbers were "massaged" in the belief it would all work out. Did I say lazy? maybe irresponsible is better. They say not to fire on the spot, that it is a bad practice, but there are times.
1 comment:
I have found the questions method is one of the best in terms of letting them know that you're watching and involved managerially, but trust and respect are the only things that get people to produce long-term at their best. The company I work for now makes sure to give incentives at unexpected times some based on performance, some just because. They also give responsibility with hints that push me. Because I enjoy the work and respect the people I am more willing to push and do. Maybe something in there will help ya.
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