Annoying Boss Habit Number Two
Not long ago I was working with a young, new business owner. He was a very successful "producer" in financial services. And he was very new to leadership and management of a business. Every time I would sit in front of him for a discussion, he constantly scanned his emails and took phone calls. Needless to say, I wasn't often heard. The same was true if we went to lunch. Crackberry in hand at every moment. Communication was lousy because he chose to be distracted. And that is annoying for all of us.
So what can we do when we feel we are not being heard? I developed a new system that helps almost every time. I politely suggest at the beginning of the discussion or meeting that we plan for no interruptions. One could say, "It's great to see you today Jane. How are you on time? I blocked about an hour so why don't we shut off our phones while we talk." That way it's clear up front. Expectations managed. But not always easy when we're dealing with a boss on her own turf.
What have you done if you're dealing with a boss who doesn’t hear you? If you're the boss, what would your people say about your ability to hear what they say? Bosses need to ask this and other important questions when taking surveys. Employees need to find a way to tell their boss how they feel about not being heard. Great bosses want to hear everything the team has to say. Just make sure you think it through and present your feelings in a professional manner.
Communication lines should be open in an ideal work environment. But since we don't live in a perfect world, we all decide how well we hear people when they talk with us. It's a matter of deciding that hearing what people say is a priority. We have to commit to more than listening. We have to commit to hearing the message behind the words. And it needs to work both ways when it comes to the boss and employees being heard. If everyone commits to hearing what others say, being at work will be a whole lot better.
Cliff Jones
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