My Mantras 2

This is the second of my mantras! It goes like this…

Managers say Yes and managers say No but they don’t have the answers.

Early in my career as a manager, I found myself thrown into roles where I knew nothing about what was supposed to be going on and how things worked.  So, when I was faced with a question or a request, I came up with a strategy of saying “What do you want to do?” or “What do you think you should do?”.  And I discovered that they always knew what they wanted to do, they just needed permission to do it e.g.

Researcher: I need access to the sheep on One Tree Hill for my research (he relied on time-dated pregnant ewes for his research into the onset of birth).

Me: What’s the problem?

Researcher: The Shepherd is quitting.

Me: What do you want to do?

Researcher: I think I could take over the lease.

Me: Why don’t we take over the lease then.

OR:

Neurosurgeon (storming into my office) - We need to do something about the drills!  They’ve all broken!

Me - What do you want to do?

Neurosurgeon - We need to buy new drills.

Me - Let’s buy new drills then!

It works the other way around too – with your own manager.

You see, managers are often not experienced in front line problems and they don’t know the answer to front line problems so they can’t necessarily tell you what to do.  Over the years I have learned that the best way to achieve what you want is to come with a possible solution to your problem and ask for permission to implement it. So go to your manager, not with a problem but with a solution. And s/he will say Yes or No.

Because managers like solutions and the best way to achieve what you want is to come with a solution and ask for permission to implement it.  You know what you want to do, you just need permission to do it.  

So next time you’re faced with a problem, decide on what you would like to do about it and take that to your manager. And s/he will say Yes or s/he will say No. And suggest to your staff that they come to you not with a problem but with an idea of what they want to do.

Use it with your own staff and they’ll become more empowered and proactive.  They’ll come to you with solutions not problems.

Use it with your manager and you’ll get what you want approved.

Interested in this issue? I can help. Contact me and let’s talk.