Not too long ago, I read a very nice reminder to say “You’re Welcome” when someone says “Thank you.” It seems that many of us have shifted away from saying, “You are welcome” to saying “No Problem.”
Think about it for a second, you do something for or say something to someone and you are given a very nice “Thank you.” In return you respond with “No Problem.” Does that mean that what you did or said was a problem or it became a problem? I am more than sure that was never your intent.
Therefore, do not convey the thought or idea that what you did was a problem or a potential problem to the person that is giving you the thanks. If you did or said what you said or did with the most honorable of intentions, then give them a good old fashion “You are welcome” or use the conjunction and say, “You’re welcome.”
If I ever remember or if I never do, to whoever you are that wrote that nice reminder, I want to say, “Thank you!”
Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional+Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Say Thank You • Don't say No Problem • Be sincere • Be Honest • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero
29 January 2010
18 January 2010
It's All About Trust & Respect (±)
Just before the recent holidays really got underway I had a brief, yet unusual conversation, with a section manager and during the course of the conversation he took me aside and said that he did not trust the employees he supervises and manages. I was shocked that this individual said that to me. I have never had that kind of conversation or relationship with this person. I have known him for about 3 or so years but never has he mentioned anything like this. I know that there have been problems with his staffers a little after he arrived and through the years he has all but replaced everyone in his section. He was present at every interview to fill those vacant positions, is the approving authority to make the job offers and he is still not happy.
Well how can he be happy? He hires them and he doesn’t trust them. Maybe he is not happy with himself but he doesn’t see that. All he sees that they are staff that are bad and cannot be trusted.
Going back to the conversation. After the initial shock wore off, I did ask him, “Do you respect them?” He looked me right in the eye and changed the subject.
Folks, it is this simple:
If you don’t trust how can you respect and if you don’t respect how can you trust?
There is no other way to see it, learn it, know it, or live it.
Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional+Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Trust • Respect • either or • All or nothing • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero
handshake image courtesy of Aidan Jones (http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidan_jones/1234618279/)
04 January 2010
That’s not my job
As we enter 2010 full of wide-eyed wonder and excitement of what the future will bring we can only guess at how long the excitement and wonder will last. How long will it be before we hear the first “that’s not my job” or “that’s not in my job description?”
By my estimate before the end of this week you will hear it at least one time. What is the first thing you think when you are at your local super mega low mart and you hear an employee say, “that’s not my job?” I know I am certainly not thrilled when I hear a cashier or receptionist or medical office records clerk say those words. After the shock has passed, the first thing that I think is who is leading and training these people? Not someone who cares and most certainly, not a leader.
Now let’s turn this around. What if it was your staff or employees that said, “that’s not my job” or “that’s not in my job description?” How does it make you feel? You won’t feel so good, I bet. First off, it speaks volumes about you as a manager but don’t take that too much to heart as that kind of staff behavior is expected from people that are being managed by “just a manager”. Now, what does this say about you as a leader or mentor?
What does it really say? First, it says that you must find a way to never have any staff member or employee utter those words again. It is at this point that you need to take stock and get to the root cause of why the people you are charged to lead are saying those dreaded words. Once you determine the cause, you need to determine why it is happening, develop a plan to surgically contain or eliminate the problem, and then act on that plan. The more specific and detailed your plan of action is the better the outcome will be. In this case it is essential to curtail the “not my job” kind of attitude that can quickly fester and poison those not yet affected. Therefore, swift execution is essential, as a leader cannot afford to hesitate.
Hesitate and subsequently fail to prevent an employee from saying “that’s not in my job description” again will most assuredly put you on the fast track to the back of the “just a manager” line.
Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional+Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • That's not my job • Cannot be tolerated • Just a manager • act fast • act decisively • act with urgency • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero
By my estimate before the end of this week you will hear it at least one time. What is the first thing you think when you are at your local super mega low mart and you hear an employee say, “that’s not my job?” I know I am certainly not thrilled when I hear a cashier or receptionist or medical office records clerk say those words. After the shock has passed, the first thing that I think is who is leading and training these people? Not someone who cares and most certainly, not a leader.
Now let’s turn this around. What if it was your staff or employees that said, “that’s not my job” or “that’s not in my job description?” How does it make you feel? You won’t feel so good, I bet. First off, it speaks volumes about you as a manager but don’t take that too much to heart as that kind of staff behavior is expected from people that are being managed by “just a manager”. Now, what does this say about you as a leader or mentor?
What does it really say? First, it says that you must find a way to never have any staff member or employee utter those words again. It is at this point that you need to take stock and get to the root cause of why the people you are charged to lead are saying those dreaded words. Once you determine the cause, you need to determine why it is happening, develop a plan to surgically contain or eliminate the problem, and then act on that plan. The more specific and detailed your plan of action is the better the outcome will be. In this case it is essential to curtail the “not my job” kind of attitude that can quickly fester and poison those not yet affected. Therefore, swift execution is essential, as a leader cannot afford to hesitate.
Hesitate and subsequently fail to prevent an employee from saying “that’s not in my job description” again will most assuredly put you on the fast track to the back of the “just a manager” line.
Here are some Technorati Tags:
• Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional+Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • That's not my job • Cannot be tolerated • Just a manager • act fast • act decisively • act with urgency • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero
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