Link This | Email this | Blog This | Comments (0)

Does Your Work Environment Remind You of Herding Cats?
September 20, 2007

Do you find that dealing with your co-workers or employees is like herding cats?  You know what needs to get done, but motivating them, empowering them, or communicating effectively is not one of your strong suits.  What do you do?

There are simple 6 steps for better communication in the workplace:

1. What is your objective?  Know it before you ask for something.  Changing your mind mid-stream causes confusion and allows others to site that a reason for ignoring the request.
2. Watch your verbal and non-verbal cues: When you communicate, you use both verbal and non-verbal cues.  Be sure these are in sync before you begin your request.  If you ask your employees to greet each customer with enthusiasm, yet you stand before them with your hands in your pockets and your eyes wandering around the room, you're sending mixed signals.
3. Get their attention first.  If they're staring at their monitor, or dealing with a customer, chances are their going to ignore your request.  Be sure you have their undivided attention before you ask for their help.
4. Think of all the reasons they may be apprehensive.  If you're asking them to take launch a web site and they're not even sure how to use email, address those concerns before you give them the request.  Supply them with ways to succeed (a project plan, someone who can help them, web sites to visit, etc.).
5. Ensure that they're assimilated with the project/demand before you move on.  Make sure, before you walk away, that you have the list of objectives covered and that they know what is expected of them and you know that they know.  Never, ever assume.
6. Follow up with an action.  Repeat the request of what is needed in an email or a hard copy so they have something to refer back to.  If you need them to write articles or product descriptions for the web site or merchandise for an ad, list out what you need them to do.  This way, you've followed up with the request and have doubled your chances of assimilation.

For your amusement:  Cowboys herding cats video

Posted by Suze Bragg on September 20, 2007 | Comments (0)