The Unhelpful Manager
By: Jan BolickNote 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 want to be a helpful manager. I have an open door policy. Come see me any time! 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 I’ll get back to you with one real soon….because I am a helpful manager.
Wonderful!
But – what if a lot of people take you up on this?
So many that you have a line of people waiting to see you. Unanswered mail from two weeks ago. Urgent notes taped to your chair.
As you run down the hall so no one can grab you to ask a question because you’re already late for a meeting with your boss, the new guy on your staff says, “I know you’re in a rush but where did you say the paper cutter is?”.
Now in your boss’ office, she asks for a progress report on the new business development idea you and she discussed last month and you have done nothing on it because you have been too busy being a helpful manager.
While you are at the other end of the hall, your staff members are clustered in little groups. 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 YOU 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:
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Your staff members becoming more competent
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and more self-confident.
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And more confident in you
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and your leadership.
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Improved morale.
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Better and quicker answers for your customers.
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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
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[...] questions. I know that sounds incredibly unhelpful, see #5 in The Joy of Independence and The Unhelpful Manager. Another good example in Management Lessons from Mom (look for the story about the cookbook and [...]