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Workers hold key to creating better workplace [By Michael Kinsman] Workplace consultant and coach Robert Flower has blunt advice for employees who want to be more productive.
“It is the responsibility of workers to tell
Workers, the study says, often make a
that are worthwhile and relevant to their
their managers that they are stupid,” he
worst-case risk assessment of speaking up
supervisors.
says. “Who isn’t going to pay attention when
and determine that their psychological and
they hear that?”
material well-being are more important than
“A lot of times people are unsuccessful
helping to make the company better. They
because they don’t understand how
Flower really doesn’t intend to sound so
are afraid for their livelihood should they
their managers are being measured
incendiary.
speak up.
and rewarded,” he says. “That’s a good
“Obviously, you can’t say it like that,” says Flower, the New York-based author of “Decoding Potential: Pathways to Understanding” (Central Plains; $20). “You have to find a way to show how changing your job makes sense for the company. Managers will listen to that and appreciate it.” In other words, actions and carefully crafted strategic plans speak louder than words when you’re trying to get the attention of the boss.
conversation to have with your supervisor Flower says workers need to be engaged
because it will help you understand what will
in their jobs and motivated to be more
make them respond.”
productive. He places the responsibility on individual workers to detect problems,
He also thinks that engaged workers who
develop plans to correct them and then sell
look upon supervisors as peers can wipe
the plans to their managers.
away the intimidation that holds back others.
“Unfortunately, most workers think they
Flower suggests that workers be more
are only responsible for what’s on their
methodical about how they approach dealing
desk,” he says. “A lot of them don’t want the
with the boss. They need to understand their
responsibility for making better companies.”
own strengths and weaknesses, as well as be able to demonstrate how their ideas fit
Duncan Mathison, managing director of
into the corporate mission. His book offers
executive coaching in the Western states for
exercises to help develop these skills.
Flower believes that employees are the key
outplacement firm Drake Beam Morin, thinks
to making better workplaces but that they
that many workers don’t possess all the tools
Flower describes this as the worker being
will have to step up to that responsibility.
needed to accomplish this.
part of something rather than just a part.
“The whole notion of the boss and the
“Many, many great ideas die in our
“If you are seen as a committed employee,
employee that we have in America is
workplaces because of the failure of people
the boss will pay attention,” he says. “But
polarizing, and it shouldn’t be,” he says. “We
to communicate those ideas effectively to
don’t expect this to be easy. The best way
view each other as the enemy.”
their supervisor,” he says. “It doesn’t matter
to change anybody or anything is to come to
whether it is the rank-and-file employee
them with a solution to their problem that
A recent study by professors from Harvard
trying to communicate with the midlevel
makes the company better.
Business School and Pennsylvania State
manager, the midlevel manager trying to
University found that workers are not
communicate an idea to an executive, or the
“One thing in the world we all share is
encouraged to speak up or communicate
president of the company dealing with the
problems. There can be no argument there.
ideas on the job. The result, according to
board. It’s just not easy for some people.”
But a lot of people with answers don’t give
the study, is that employers don’t get to
themselves enough credit. They need to
share in valuable employee knowledge and
Companies are interested in solutions to
figure out how to make sure somebody hears
experience that would make their companies
their problems, but Mathison says workers
their ideas.”
operate more efficiently.
must learn more about how to present ideas
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