Is Your Boss a Computer?

Computers are wonderful tools but they can be maddening at times.  I'm sure you've had the experience where you want a computer to do something but for some reason it won't work. All you get for feedback is an error message or a error sound. The machine can't tell you what it wants and that can be very frustrating.

In some organizations, leaders seem to take inspiration from computers.  Their staff is constantly trying to figure out what he or she needs.  Instructions are confusing, conflicting, or not stated at all.

Sometimes this is a leadership style where the leader wants staff to constantly be on their toes and spend a lot of time considering his or her needs.

In other cases, this style is a reflection of someone who may be good enough to get a supervisory position doesn't understand how to lead a team.

In either case, is the leader getting the most out of his or her staff?  Are communication mistakes being made that cut into productivity?  Are staff burning out from constantly being unsure what's needed from them and having to repeat processes?

Perhaps the most important question to consider is whether a highly effective leader is ever not an excellent communicator.

Do Managers Ignore Workplace Talent?

Some leaders pay outside organizations to do work for them that could easily be done by someone who is sitting just a few feet away. What's happening?  The company is evaluating employees by the titles they hold and not by the talents they have.

The economic slowdown has seen an unprecedented shuffling of the workforce.  Those who lost their jobs had to latch onto a paycheck wherever they can find one.  This may have resulted in a lateral or a downward move.  Organizations would be smart to evalulate staff not only by the skills they have for their job but also the skills they are not asked to use in the position.   


Instead people tend to be lumped in with the title and the performance of the average person in that position.  Automatically, it's assumed that the employee can do no more than their job description.  


Smart managers need to shift the hiring focus to include overall talent.  Make sure the needs of the  position will be fulfilled but also check to see if the individual has other skills that could benefit the organization.  Who's to say that an Administrative Assistant might not be a wizard with graphic design?


This kind of evaluation can boost productivity and better engage your employees.  It's about empowering people and not let labels limit your potential.