Mixed Messages Demotivate Workers

Q.?Our manager reviews our work so much that we miss customer deadlines. When we ask for help, he says he hired us to do our job, but then doesn’t let us and is critical. What do we do?

A.?An effective manager will communicate clearly what results are needed to meet a goal or deadline to serve the customers. A manager who trusts the team will ensure they have what they need to do the job (training, equipment, materials, etc.) The team can work together and decide how they will accomplish the work, and who will do what to achieve the results needed.

When a manager reviews the team’s work and continually makes changes or changes direction, the team’s morale can be deflated. While the team members may be open to learn, they also feel pride in their work. To continually have it changed or criticized communicates that the manager doesn’t trust the team members to do what they were hired to do.

A manager who doesn’t trust the team members has an issue with fear that needs to be addressed. If someone can’t trust, fears drive their behaviors. Common fears are: losing a job or the business, losing control, change, failure (or success), making mistakes, and speaking up. Many of these are compounded and can nearly paralyze progress because micro-managing behaviors become common.

It's imperative that leaders identify their fears, name them, and work to reduce their fears and build trust. Discussing fears is a great way to diffuse them.

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BIO:

Marcia Daszko works with Boards, C-suite leaders and teams to guide their leadership transformation to accelerate and achieve bold results?never before imagined. She is a provocative keynote, breakout, and digital speaker for conferences and corporate events. She has been a strategic business advisor and management consultant based on Dr. Deming’s philosophy of leadership for 25+ years. An executive retreat facilitator and MBA professor, she is also the bestselling author of the book “Pivot Disrupt Transform.”?Contact Marcia Daszko for her help at?[email protected]??www.mdaszko.com