02.17.07
The 6 Most Annoying Things Employees Say — And How To Respond
I just read a neat article on CNN.com entitled The Six Most Annoying Things Kids Say–and How to Respond. In this article, author Melody Warnick of Parenting.com talks about bad verbal behavior from kids and some techniques for responding.
You can read Warnick’s article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/parenting/01/15/par.most.annoying/index.html
As I read the article, the six statements are very similar to those we hear from our supervisors, peers, and staff in the workplace. The context may be different, but at the core, the needs are often the same. As managers, we’ll experience these on a frequent basis. Here are the statements from Warnick’s article, and some suggests from me on how to respond with adult children in the office.
“Mine”
This one is common with kids. If you have more than one child, you hear it on an hourly basis, no matter the age. With adults in the workplace, it signals some type of ownership, either physical or perceived. It often comes out when employees are attempting to take or at least maintain credit for an accomplishment. If you (as the boss) don’t take the time to recognize who did the accomplishment, you’ll open yourself up for this type of reaction.
Solution: Take the time to give credit to whom credit is due.
******
“It’s Not Fair”
Common with kids, more common with adults. It usually happens when one employee is recognized over another. It can happen when one employee is reprimanded and others involved in the incident go free. I know it’s impossible to get the entire story at all times, and of course we can’t control perceptions, but do what you can to avoid this.
Solution: Take time to get the entire story. Be sure to recognize and reprimand fairly and evenly.
*******
“You’re Not The Boss Of Me”
For adults, it probably one come out verbally, but you can certainly see it non-verbally. You’ll see eye-rolling, shoulder-shrugging, and of course an employee’s tone of voice will spell it out too. It happens when you as the boss take real or perceived steps over the line and into a person’s values system or even personal life. Employees usually don’t mind the intrusion if it’s something positive, but any reprimand or negative statement will result in this.
Solution: Keep out of areas you have no business being in.
********
“I Want It Now”
It doesn’t matter what “it” is, we all want it now. While you won’t hear it from employees, you’ll probably again see it non-verbally. This is a great indicator that your employees need some type of communication from you, possibly in a coaching situation. If they want a promotion, sit down with them and list out the steps. If it’s a pay raise, let them know what it takes to get that raise.
Solution: Talk to your employees - coaching techniques are appropriate here.
*********
“You Never Let Me Do Anything”
Employees probably say this when a co-worker gets to do something special or gets recognized and others don’t. It’s the follow-on statement to “It’s not fair.”
Solution: It may take a little more time and patience than you have, but explain the situation and your reasoning to the unhappy employee (I know you don’t have to, but take the time to do it ok?)
***********
“I Don’t Like You”
Kids say it as an immediate reaction to something you didn’t do for them. It’s a purely emotional response. Adults probably won’t have the guts to say it, but you can bet they think it. It’s done in a flash and when the emotion is spent, the feeling will subside.
Solution: Don’t do anything. Don’t react. Let the employee vent. If they’re a decent employee, they’ll apologize. Newsflash: Not everybody loves the boss.
So that’s it. Some simple thoughts on difficult exchanges. It’s all part of having good people skills in and out of the office.
Not telling you what to do, just offering you a suggestion!
Nailah, have an OUTSTANDING week!
Malcolm
Malcolm O. Munro
ETP Consulting - Encouraging Top Performance
P.O. Box 1820
Germantown, MD 20875
Toll Free: (866) 575-2231
Metro/DC Area: (301) 576-0684
Fax: (301)685-6312
mal@professormal.com
Check out my latest FREE Resource! Go to http://www.5speakermistakes.com and download my 10 page report on the 5 Most Common Speaker Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.
Want to hone your People Skills? Get my FREE E-Book “The People Skills Primer” at http://www.peopleskillsprimer.com!
No Tags