Note from Jan: For every person that expresses shock or concern or doubt, I figure there are at least ten others who think or feel the same but don’t take the time to express it.  So I thought it would be helpful to address the concerns shared by a few readers.  Readers who thought some of the suggestions in last month’s “Joy of Independence” seemed unhelpful.  To those who shared their thoughts with me, THANKS for the helpful feedback!   And to everyone – I hope this is a helpful follow up.

 

How could you do that?

Someone comes to you with a simple question … one you can answer pretty easily…but instead of answering it… you ask if it can wait until you meet on Tuesday?

How could you do that?

I understand if you want to be a helpful manager. One with an open door, come-see-me-anytime, grab-me-in-the-hallway, ask-me-questions, tell-me-your-problems, I’m-here-to-help-you, I’ve-got-answers, I’ve-got-solutions-or-will-get-back-to-you-with-one-real-soon policy. Yes – all of that in the name of being a HELPFUL MANAGER.

Jane is a helpful manager.

People bring her problems all the time.  So many people that there is a line of people waiting to see her.   She has unanswered mail from two weeks ago. Urgent notes taped to her chair.

She runs down the hall a lot – because she’s late for meetings.  And if she runs, so no one can grab her in the hallway to ask questions.  Today the new guy who just learned in orientation about her grab-me-in-the-hallway policy, grabs her in the hallway and says, “I see you’re in a rush but where did you say the paper cutter is?”.

Once again, Jane is late for her monthly meeting with the boss who wants a progress report on the new business development idea they discussed at the last monthly meeting.

Jane has done nothing on the project.  But she HAS been a very helpful manager.

While Jane is meeting with the boss,  her staff members are clustered in little groups at the other end of the hall. One over by the water cooler… another by the vending machine…another in the parking lot heading for lunch…talking about how they are stuck on their projects because they are waiting.

Waiting for JANE to be helpful.

*****

Could this story be about you?

You, who have worked so hard to be helpful?

Now known as inaccessible, inefficient, a bottle neck?

An Unhelpful Manager?

It can be a slow and painful realization. At least it was for me.

That pain (and a heavy dose of exhaustion) drove me to search for and discover the tips I shared in “The Joy of Independence“, all of which helped me be a much more helpful manager – and a far more effective one.

I have to be honest though.

When putting some of these strategies to work, there are still  times when I feel unhelpful. And times when the other people involved feel the same way.  In fact, sometimes they get annoyed, frustrated, even angry.

But stick with it – because if you do – you’ll be helping them help themselves which can lead to all kinds of wonderful things like:

• Your staff members becoming more competent
• and more self-confident.
• And more confident in you
• and your leadership.
• Improved morale.
• Better and quicker answers for your customers.
• More time to focus on your biggest priorities – things like that new business development idea you discussed with your boss – so that you can achieve the results you want.

copyright 2008 – Jan Bolick, Business Class Inc 

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2013