Category Archives: Communication

#161 What the boss wants

Leave a reply
Send to Kindle

Turns out, what the boss wants is not that important. Setting aside the boss’ emotional and ego needs, he or she is looking to solve a problem. Find out what that problem is. It is usually what the boss’ boss wants.

If you extend the logic, the boss’ boss’ boss (and so on depending on the layers of management) is really trying to understand the customer’s needs. That is the holy grail to be hunted down.

Meanwhile, your co-workers are still human, and a percentage of your energies will go into managing that inefficiency.

Be mindful of whether you are managing an inefficiency or solving the customer’s problem. You have to do both, on a good day, you’ll get to do more of the latter.

Share

#160 Failure to communicate

Leave a reply
Send to Kindle

There are times when in spite of my best efforts, I have communication gaps with my co-workers. No matter what I try, I just cannot get thru to them or see their point of view.

This is not a failure if the following is true:

  • I have made a genuine attempt to overcome communication gaps.
  • My creativity is under strain from the effort I am making.
  • Unless there is a business reason for me to stop, I will keep trying.
  • I have grown, matured, and evolved in the process.
  • I have found a third person who will carry my message to the co-worker.

This gives us a new metric for measuring communication abilities in leadership situations. The message has to get thru to your co-workers, but you may not be the best person to deliver it. Find someone who is more effective. Recognizing that, and executing on that knowledge is also leadership.

Same logic holds true if you have trouble drafting or composing your message.

Share