#318: How to regain respect

As we drift towards Labor Day, I plead, yes, plead that business leaders out there will apply Emmanuel Kant’s categorical imperative:

Here it is: What would happen if every one behaved the way you do?

If you think that the outcome would be negative, then obviously you should not behave that way. For example, what would happen if every one lied? That’s right. You couldn’t trust anyone. So, don’t lie. Ever.

Now consider the out-of-control executive reward systems. What if everyone paid themselves a crazy bonus? What if everyone got a bonus, irrespective of actual performance? What if everyone had a one-sided contract and enforced it even though there’s no money coming in?

My guess is that we would have the mess we’re in right now.

So please apply this moral test, especially when it goes against your narrow self-interest, and you will help all of us. On top of that, you will regain our respect.



I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

Listen to the radio version of How to regain respect
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Copyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh

#317: Habitually struggling to find work

At last, signs that the economy is turning. Or as the pundits say, it is returning to positive territory.

What about you? Are you in positive territory?

I hope so because we humans have a nasty habit of perpetuating a habit, if you know what I mean. Many of us have become despondent because we have not had much luck finding work. We now run the risk that we have formed a new habit - habitual despondency.

We form these habits because we learn from experience. If your experience lately has been how difficult it is to get work, then you are likely to believe that this trend will continue, even as job prospects improve.

But just because you have struggled to date is no guarantee that you will struggle tomorrow. The world will change even if you don’t. So don’t jump to the conclusion that history will repeat itself.

History will only repeat if your habit makes it so.



I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

Listen to the radio version of Habitually struggling to find work
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James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
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Copyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh

#316: Delegate your keys

Are you still on vacation? Good. Let’s talk more about managing from a distance.

According to conventional management wisdom you can delegate authority, but you cannot delegate responsibility. In other words, you may give a subordinate the necessary power to do something, but you will still be held responsible for the consequences.

Here’s the rub. This fear of being held responsible for someone else’s actions stops many managers delegating effectively. And from having a decent vacation.

Come on, people, have some faith. When you leave the office for an extended time, hand over your authority, your fear and your keys. I remember physically moving into my boss’ office whenever he was away. That way my colleagues and my boss’ bosses knew I was in charge and accountable.

Now that’s delegating. Actually, it was succession planning. My boss knew that he could not go on vacation unless someone could stand in for him.

Nor could he be promoted.



I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

Listen to the radio version of Delegate your keys
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James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
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Copyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh

#315: Don’t grab the first job

It’s official - France, Germany and Japan are no longer in recession. Is the USA next? If so, be prepared to be hired.

Here’s what I mean by ‘be prepared’. If you are still unemployed, it’s going to be so tempting to grab the first job on offer. Don’t do that unless you have at least done this simple little background check.

You know that an employer does a background check on you. Well, turn the table. Check out the employer’s customers. Find out as much as you can about them.

If the employer’s typical customers are doing well, then chances are your new job will be relatively secure, at least from market turmoil. If these customers are still struggling, then your new employer could still be too fragile for you to take the risk.

Yes, I did say this was a simple check, but do it nevertheless. It can save you pain and it will impress your new employer no end.


I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

Listen to the radio version of Don’t grab the first job
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James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
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Copyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh

#314: Stealing food does not a criminal make

I come from a country where the official jobless rate never matched reality. There were always far more people desperate for work than the government cared to admit to. That was tolerated because the country was kindly labeled a developing economy.

It could not happen here in a developed economy, a first-world economy, the leading economy, could it?

Yes. The official jobless numbers are much lower than reality. You see, official numbers exclude people who have given up searching and those who work part time out of necessity.

All governments tend to project the rosiest picture to keep their citizens sedated. And yet, we in business know from terrible experience that unless we face up to harsh realities quickly, we might not have a business to manage.

Here’s what I learned in Africa. Unless we all deal with this harsh reality, we will make criminals out of desperate people who steal food to feed hungry children.

(This piece was inspired by Bob Herbert’s article “A Scary Reality” published in the New York Times on August 10, 2009)


I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

Listen to the radio version of Stealing food does not a criminal make
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James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
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Copyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh

#313: Why should I hire you?

Here’s a bit of advice for all you work seekers out there, including businesses selling services.

Do you want to make it easy for the person who makes the hiring decision? You do? Then struggle to answer this question: Why should I hire you?

If you can’t convince them that you are worthy, then they won’t waste time on you. They are flooded with applicants. Their response to your ignorance will be blunt: Next!

Ready for more advice? The more compelling your reason for hiring you, the less concerned they will be with formal qualifications and experience - unless those are critical to the position.

You see, in most organizations you are not paid according to your history. You are paid for the contribution you make. Be convincing about how your contribution will lead to their success, and you’re close to being hired.

So, change your approach from ‘what I have done’ to ‘what I can do for you’.



I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

Listen to the radio version of Why Should I Hire You?
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James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
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Copyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh

#312: You’re deselected! (not fired)

Good news! Some financial firms are making super profits. Bad news. Mere mortals are still being deselected.

Did you catch that? Deselected. That’s the term a well-known bank used recently to get rid of a once-valued ‘associate’.

Let’s count the ways compassionate managers use to dump us. These real examples were used with great successy by internationally known companies:

The method of choice in 1983 was the trusty old fax machine. In 2001 it was email; in 2003 text messaging. And in 2007? The fake fire drill. This one was staged in the UK to collect employees in the parking lot so that they could be fired collectively.

Did you note the date line? Clearly, the hi-tech revolution has outstripped management evolution. From fax to e-mail to text messaging to fake alarms - you’re fired.

But the art of management is catching up. After all, it is so much nicer to be deselected than to be fired.



I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

Listen to the radio version of You’re deselected! (not fired)
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James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
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Copyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh

#311: Self-respect trumps self-esteem

Tell me, how’s your self-serving bias? Working over time, no doubt. Just like mine.

Let me explain. When we view success or good outcomes as due to our own doing or personal characteristics - that’s self-serving bias. When we blame failure or bad outcomes on external causes or bad luck - self-serving bias again.

Why do we do this? According to psychologists, if we can claim responsibility for good things, then our self-esteem and our public image are enhanced. And if we can blame failure on external factors then we can protect our self-esteem and our public image.

So go ahead, blame this economy on the bankers and the loss of your job on your ex-boss. Blame who ever you like for whatever you want, but be warned. I’ve tried blame and I felt better for only a few seconds at a time.

True, blame keeps my self-esteem in tact. But my self-respect demands that I take responsibility for doing something about my predicament.



I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

Listen to the radio version of Self-Respect Trumps Self-Esteem
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Copyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh

#310: Management By Wondering About

August is the month when real managers go on vacation while juniors hold the fort. It is also when a lot of MBWA takes place.

No, no, not management by walking around. That’s so seventies.

I’m talking about management by wondering about. You know what I mean. You’re lying in the sun somewhere when you start wondering about the office. Are they coping without you? Are they messing up? Are they missing you?

So you start managing by ‘wondering about’. First, you wonder about your emails. Then you break your promise and you read your emails on that thingy that allows you to Manage By Wandering Away from the office. Before you know it, you’re sending emails that start with ‘I’m just wondering about...’.

Of course, you’re not fooling them back at the office. They know you are more than just wondering. You’re trying to manage them from a distance.

After all, you are a real manager on vacation.



I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

Listen to the radio version of Management By Wondering About
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James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
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Copyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh

#309: Why no-one is here

The state of this economy has reminded me why we tend to live in any time zone except the present moment. Here’s why – guilt and fear.

Guilt keeps us remorseful about the past; fear keeps us doubtful about the future. And so we fill today with regret for a yesterday that should have been different and clutter the present with dreams of a better tomorrow.

We forget that guilt is second judgement. It is hindsight with perfect insight that makes you think you could have, should have, behaved differently.

And we forget that fear is pre-judgement. You are judging what has not yet happened. You are afraid of what could happen or afraid of the future consequences of what has already happened.

Guilt and fear trick us into playing what-should, what-might, what-if games instead of living right-now. Together they suffocate the life out of the moment and trap us in a time zone that does not exist.



I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

Listen to the radio version of Why No-One Is Here
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James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
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Copyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh