There Are No Horrible Bosses, Just Horrible Communicators!
Posted on May 01, 2012 by Keith Hill, One of Thousands of ADD ADHD Coaches on Noomii.
We glance at one of the 64 communication strategies used to transform horrible bosses into great leaders.
In my opinion, one of the prettiest words in the English language is the word aqueous. It means to comply or to give in without protest or ill will. This is the optimal situation for an executive to be in when asking a subordinate to perform a task. This is what even horrible bosses are attempting to achieve. It just so happens that their methods are crude, destructive, and often non-productive. In many cases, these bosses may not even be aware of the destruction their methods are causing, chalking the destruction up to the ineptitude of their subordinates.
Real leaders don’t assign blame, they assign action. They do what it takes to persuade and lead rather than coerce and threaten. Good communication strategy can lead to successful working relationships between bosses and subordinates. The ways to achieve this stat are vast, but research has shown that they can be classified into 64 different strategies, which I teach in my coaching programs.
One of the underlying tenets of these strategies is the idea that human beings are social creatures. That being said, we often succumb to social norms, even when doing so may be counterproductive to our own goals. Understanding of these social norms allows one to utilize them in communication. This is not manipulation, this being aware of the rules of society and communication which is necessary to succeed in that society.
For example, one of the most common ways of persuading others to aqueous to your request is to offer to do what you are asking of them yourself. Consider the employee who is close to missing a deadline again. You value the employee, but realize that this behavior cannot continue. You also don’t want to anger the employee because you know the resulting resentment could be counterproductive. You would come to that employee, and say, “John, I see we have a deadline approaching. What can I do to make sure you don’t miss another deadline?” In this way, the employee is made aware that you have observed his challenge with meeting deadlines, but you do not come across as tyrannical, or nagging. Make sure that this is uttered with sincerity or it will be perceived as sarcasm.
Strategies like these turn horrible bosses into diplomatic powerhouses who gain compliance as well as respect. Contact me today to design a coaching program that transforms you from a horrible boss to a sought after leader. Make a choice to lead your employees to success rather than push them into oblivion.
Keith Hill
