#171: Expect more fear in the work place

Many unpleasant things can happen during a recession. Here’s one that I hope you won’t promote nor experience. More fear in the workplace.

During an economic upswing workers become scarce and thus more powerful. This means that the boss must put on kid gloves and make nice with employees.

But during a recession, jobs are scarce and workers lose power. Bosses become more powerful, the gloves come off and fear returns to the work place.

I know, I know. Fear is always present in the workplace. Only the degree varies. After all, being able to inspire fear has always been a useful management tool. For some reason, this skill has gone underground of late in favor of concepts like emotional intelligence and coaching.

And yet, as we all know, there are times when a good crack of the whip can work wonders. Ask me. I’m self-employed and some days I could do with a bit of the stick myself.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am

#170: Be brave, trust is dangerous

As you know, without trust in the work place you cannot form workable relationships. The problem is that trust can be dangerous. It involves risk, the risk that you could lose whatever it is you entrust to others.

Trust requires that you accept the risks and make yourself vulnerable on purpose. And your purpose is to secure specific future outcomes or behaviors from those you trust.

Here’s the rub. A time lag exists between when you extend your trust and when you experience the anticipated outcome or behavior. And because of the time-lag, doubt creeps in.

Don’t let it. If you have enough reason to trust someone to do as expected when expected, then trust them. Then let them be and let them get on with it. Don’t second-guess, don’t expect the worst, don’t interfere.

You made yourself vulnerable for a reason. Now be brave, don’t doubt and keep fear out of it.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am

#169: It’s the savings, stupid

Tell me, do you spot the flaw in the 150 billion dollar stimulus plan? Here’s the flaw: ‘stimulus’ promotes spending.

What worries me more than a recession is the lack of ‘stimulus’ to promote savings. Without your own savings, you are perpetually at the mercy of someone else’s savings. And their goodwill.

To get of your own debt-triggered recession, you must forgo some pleasure now to ensure some future fun. It’s called delayed gratification. I know it’s a difficult concept to grasp, especially if you are used to living in the moment with fast-foods, immediate-download and on-demand viewing.

It’s a bit like going on diet to lose weight. You have to give up something now to feel lighter tomorrow. Trust me, if you save rather than spend, you will begin to feel lighter.

Spending is much easier, but I plan to defy the government on that. I’m going save whatever they send me.

Maybe.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am

#168: Building trust at work

How do you build trust? Explaining it is easy, but doing it can be difficult for many of us.

Why? Because building trust requires that you constantly and consistently present who you really are, your truth, so that everybody knows what to expect of you.

In the work place, this boils down to two words: no surprises. You must never commit the trust-destroying sin at work of over-promising and under-delivering. Alignment between what you say and what you do over time is critical. That is the basis of trust in the work place.

If you are consistent in how you behave, and in how you enact your values and norms, then your colleagues know what to expect. They can predict how you will react and this insight enables them to decide how much to rely on you.

One last point. If you show that you don’t trust others, don’t expect them to trust you. Your not trusting makes other people suspicious.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am

#167: Details of a recession

Unexpected things tend to happen during a recession. Dealing with the unexpected is said to be the most difficult aspect of business life.

My experience has taught me the opposite. The most difficult thing to manage is the expected.

Let’s face it. Business is boring. It’s the same nonsense over and over, day after day.

It’s like driving the same car, on the same road, to the same destination at the same time every day. You must do it. And if you take your eye off what you’re doing, bad things can happen.

The most successful managers I have worked with were those who had the discipline to focus on the same detail, over and over, day after day.

And that’s what you need to remember. Keep your focus on the same details that made you successful in the good times. A recession does not change your business, only the conditions.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am

#166: Trust at work

Trust in the workplace. What does it mean?

When two or more people get together to perform a task then they become dependent on one another. Without one another, the task cannot not be completed.

There is a catch, though. This interdependency means that everyone must be relied on to do as they are told to do and to continue to behave as expected.

Trust in the workplace thus involves dependency, reliability and consistency. Trust means that you have the confidence that you can rely on others because you believe that they will continue to do as promised and as expected.

A common mistake is to expect too much trust at work. Trust others to get their work done, not with your life. You will create unexpected nonsense if you demand trust beyond what is needed to achieve team goals and the organization’s purpose.

You can trust me on that.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am

#165: Life after recession

Now that everybody is shouting ‘recession’ and demanding belts to be tightened, I have a question for you: “Can efficiency cost too much?”

Most people think that the point of efficiency is to reduce cost, so how can it ‘cost’ too much? Efficiency costs too much when society pays the price.

For example, efficiency gives us canned elevator music instead of soaring symphonies. Efficiency gives us cramped cubicles instead of quiet offices, bland warehouses instead of grand cathedrals, parking lots instead of parks. You get the picture.

Inefficiency can be a bit wasteful, but it’s a small price to pay for beauty. And for honest jobs. Don’t forget that the mad scramble for efficiency has given us downsizing, rightsizing and outsourcing, all meaning the same thing - your fired.

What we do going in to a recession matters, because it will determine how we live when we come out of it.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am

#164: Why mutual trust matters

Before you hire your next employee, be clear on what you can and cannot train. Certain desirable attributes just cannot be trained. They must be part of the employee from day one.

Trust is one of those attributes. The ability to trust is critical in any organization, even in a criminal gang. Here’s why.

When you don’t trust your colleagues, whether boss, co-worker or subordinate, where do you spend your time and energy? That’s right. You spend time and energy worrying about what they’re doing, saying or thinking. You constantly read between the lines, look for hidden agendas and plan for negative outcomes.

When you don’t see the need for mutual trust and when you don’t see your internal struggles as odd behavior, then you have become what Carl Jung called the enemy within.

And you will remain the enemy within as long as you spend your time and energy away from doing your job keeping the customers satisfied.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am