How poor communication regarding work can lead to failure with unexpected outcome
During my career I helped a manager with advice on a newly appointed senior manager lack of business communication skills. This article is from the managers point of view. Dealing with a diverse group of managers with their own unique work ethic and skill set, communication is crucial. It is also important to keep in mind that you are dealing with adults so professionalism is key.
In this case a senior manager neglected to do follow up work on a three monthly work schedule issued to a manager. The manager did not see it as a priority because of the senior managers lack of stating that the schedule is broken up into weekly deadlines. The senior manager did follow up work only when the work schedule came up for review two months later and was shocked that the manager did not work on the schedule. The manager claimed that it was not seen as a priority due to poor or no communication regarding the work schedule. The manager thought that one month left to complete the schedule would be more than enough time and decided to focus on other pressing matters during the two first month’s of the schedule. The senior manager told the manager that all managers act like kids and need to be spoon fed when it comes to basic work. Further to that the senior manager tasked the manager to finish the two months missed work in one week as punishment for not doing it during the two months.
The manager knew that the work would not be done to the required standard as the deadline was to short. This would also mean that all staff would be under unnecessary pressure. The manager then created two unique plans to solve the problem and still keep the required standard in place. On presenting detailed plans to finish the work in the remaining month the manager was told that it is a problem that was caused by the manager and needs to finish it in one week and must now suffer the consequences of this. Now the manager needs to work overtime every day, this leaves the manager depressed and focus on the quality of the managers work will be poor. This will also cause the manager problems in the managers personal life with limited family time becoming no family time. Faced with this problem the manager starts looking for ways out of this situation and being treated like a kid the manager withdraws any further business ideas and the motivation to deliver over and beyond is completely lost.
Who is at fault? The manager for not following the schedule or the senior manager for not communicating with the manager during the process. Both managers have busy schedules in their own respect and plan tasks according to priority. The senior manager did not prioritize the schedule and do weekly follow up. The manager went about daily tasks with no concern as the manager had a plan to finish the schedule at a later stage. The senior manager assumed that the manager was working on the schedule without offering assistance or tracking the process.
The senior manager is at fault for not doing the basic follow up and now has a manager that is demotivated and probably looking for other work. In the senior managers mind the manager is a hardworking person with a ‘can do’ attitude. The senior manager does not realize that they just made the manager doubt in the business and it’s management structure. This is the exact opposite of what the senior manager wanted. Communication is the most important aspect of work in any regard, not only between senior manager and manager but on all levels across all businesses. The amount of harm that can be done by neglecting communication is enormous.
In this case a senior manager neglected to do follow up work on a three monthly work schedule issued to a manager. The manager did not see it as a priority because of the senior managers lack of stating that the schedule is broken up into weekly deadlines. The senior manager did follow up work only when the work schedule came up for review two months later and was shocked that the manager did not work on the schedule. The manager claimed that it was not seen as a priority due to poor or no communication regarding the work schedule. The manager thought that one month left to complete the schedule would be more than enough time and decided to focus on other pressing matters during the two first month’s of the schedule. The senior manager told the manager that all managers act like kids and need to be spoon fed when it comes to basic work. Further to that the senior manager tasked the manager to finish the two months missed work in one week as punishment for not doing it during the two months.
The manager knew that the work would not be done to the required standard as the deadline was to short. This would also mean that all staff would be under unnecessary pressure. The manager then created two unique plans to solve the problem and still keep the required standard in place. On presenting detailed plans to finish the work in the remaining month the manager was told that it is a problem that was caused by the manager and needs to finish it in one week and must now suffer the consequences of this. Now the manager needs to work overtime every day, this leaves the manager depressed and focus on the quality of the managers work will be poor. This will also cause the manager problems in the managers personal life with limited family time becoming no family time. Faced with this problem the manager starts looking for ways out of this situation and being treated like a kid the manager withdraws any further business ideas and the motivation to deliver over and beyond is completely lost.
Who is at fault? The manager for not following the schedule or the senior manager for not communicating with the manager during the process. Both managers have busy schedules in their own respect and plan tasks according to priority. The senior manager did not prioritize the schedule and do weekly follow up. The manager went about daily tasks with no concern as the manager had a plan to finish the schedule at a later stage. The senior manager assumed that the manager was working on the schedule without offering assistance or tracking the process.
The senior manager is at fault for not doing the basic follow up and now has a manager that is demotivated and probably looking for other work. In the senior managers mind the manager is a hardworking person with a ‘can do’ attitude. The senior manager does not realize that they just made the manager doubt in the business and it’s management structure. This is the exact opposite of what the senior manager wanted. Communication is the most important aspect of work in any regard, not only between senior manager and manager but on all levels across all businesses. The amount of harm that can be done by neglecting communication is enormous.
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