Impossible deadlines, a mountain of deliverables and meagre resources – a reality of our times. Rudeness and bullying are a way of life. Especially if you work in a multicultural workplace where you have expats working for a living. The Gulf or the Middle East is once such region where you will encounter these situations.
When you are under pressure - always - to deliver against impossible deadlines, its difficult to be polite with your juniors.
Scenario 1
"Just do as I say and I don't care how you do it - I need it by tomorrow" How often have you said this to your juniors or people who report to you? If this sounds like you in a stressful situation then you are just setting yourself up for a disaster. You may get your stuff sent to you on time but chances are that it may not be great quality or full of mistakes as it has been completed more out of fear than a sense of ownership of the deliverable. You have successfully passed on your stress to the person who is performing in fear rather than a sense of ownership.
Let's replace this by an alternative
Scenario 2
"Look, there is this issue with the deliverable that has gone to the client. There are a few mistakes that should have been picked up but we could not do it at the time. I need to know what is the best possible time frame we can do this correctly and send it out. I appreciate your current workload but this needs to be done as soon as possible. When do you think we can send this out?”
Chances are your junior will really appreciate your politeness and may even surprise you by turning it around in record time – even quicker than you anticipated in Scenario 1. In the first scenario you have unthinkingly transferred the stress without inspiring ownership. You have also ascribed blame and fault to the person indirectly. In scenario 2 you are seeking an answer as a leader rather than seeking to transfer the blame. “We” is the operative word here and a team spirit is established. More often than not, you may just hear the words – “I will do this right away because you have shown me the respect and are asking politely”
Its easy to be a bully at work by being inconsiderate and thinking you are the only responsible person around. That is never the case. Assign responsibility and allow people to take ownership.
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Scenario 1
"Just do as I say and I don't care how you do it - I need it by tomorrow" How often have you said this to your juniors or people who report to you? If this sounds like you in a stressful situation then you are just setting yourself up for a disaster. You may get your stuff sent to you on time but chances are that it may not be great quality or full of mistakes as it has been completed more out of fear than a sense of ownership of the deliverable. You have successfully passed on your stress to the person who is performing in fear rather than a sense of ownership.
Let's replace this by an alternative
Scenario 2
"Look, there is this issue with the deliverable that has gone to the client. There are a few mistakes that should have been picked up but we could not do it at the time. I need to know what is the best possible time frame we can do this correctly and send it out. I appreciate your current workload but this needs to be done as soon as possible. When do you think we can send this out?”
Chances are your junior will really appreciate your politeness and may even surprise you by turning it around in record time – even quicker than you anticipated in Scenario 1. In the first scenario you have unthinkingly transferred the stress without inspiring ownership. You have also ascribed blame and fault to the person indirectly. In scenario 2 you are seeking an answer as a leader rather than seeking to transfer the blame. “We” is the operative word here and a team spirit is established. More often than not, you may just hear the words – “I will do this right away because you have shown me the respect and are asking politely”
Its easy to be a bully at work by being inconsiderate and thinking you are the only responsible person around. That is never the case. Assign responsibility and allow people to take ownership.
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