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Skills Development: |
To Be Heard, Gain Weight part 1 of 2 |
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"The boss needs to see that the employee understands the mission and vision of the organization and that the employee's input will help accomplish the mission and secure the vision."
"...employees who demonstrate professional competence over time gain influential weight with their boss."
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This article was authored by John Hawkins, Founder and President of Leadership Edge Incorporated. Mr. Hawkins helps university students and organizational leaders across America wrestle with the issue of developing a leadership lifestyle. He believes that this is essential for effective, long-term leadership of today’s chaotic organizations and corporations. Mr. Hawkins is an author, consultant, speaker, husband, and father. There are few experiences in life more frustrating than not being heard. When we have a suggestion or insight that we believe to be valuable, we want and expect others to listen. A boss's willful disregard, inattention or indifference for their employee's contributions over time demotivates and demoralizes the employee. The employee wants to be heard. And when they are not heard, they remain frustrated and disengaged or they leave. Twentysomething employees often believe that their boss doesn't listen to them. College graduate, entry-level twentysomethings want their boss's attention and respect. They also want their boss to “buy into” their ideas on how work should be done or what direction the company should take. And yet to their disappointment, they all too often believe that no one is listening to them. Another group of people that often believes no one is listening is the branch or department within a company that is marginalized by executive leadership. Sometimes this can be a cutting edge division that is viewed as irrelevant by the senior partners or corporate executives. Other times it may be a support department that is not directly involved in the core work of the organization. Members of groups like these find that they are ignored and their input disregarded. Employees in fast moving, entrepreneurial startup companies are prime candidates for not being heard. In these contexts leaders often fall into the trap of believing that there is no time to gain input or that they already fully understand. They do not want their employees’ input; they only want their productivity. How do employees gain the attention of their boss? How do they gain respect and “buy in?” What do they need to do in order to be heard? I believe that in order to be heard, they need to gain weight. They need to gain the weight that will secure the possibility of influence with their boss. They need to gain the weight that will establish them as a key resource for their boss. Theirs is not a hearing problem; it is a weight problem. The first weight they need to gain is the weight of the bottom line. For their input or contribution to be received, it must clearly and unarguably be linked to accomplishing the company's bottom line. The boss needs to see that the employee understands the mission and vision of the organization and that the employee's input will help accomplish the mission and secure the vision. Employees who focus their thoughts and abilities on the company's success over time gain influential weight. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ page 1 2 © Copyright – John Hawkins – July 2000 - Used with permission |
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