The other side of the story to Expectations of a Direct Report — Interesting key points on what most people expect from their Top Managers/CEO/GM/Leaders in a company. Have a great weekend! (posted a couple of days in advance as will be busy from Friday to the weekend)

Clear Direction
• Where the business is going, why & what are the benefits if we accomplish it
• Every quarter, the boss should get up in front of the team & explain the financial results & the progress of any operational/strategic initiative

Set Goals & Objectives
• Each person should know EXACTLY what individual goals he/she are going to be measured on over a given period & where to invest precious time
• When goals & objectives are clear, promotions & bonus decisions can be based on merit
• Morale suffers if people think there’s some mystery behind the process
• People are much happier & more comfortable when they’re working in a meritocracy

Give Frequent, Specific & Immediate Feedback
• What he does well
• What he can do better
• How he & his boss can work together to fill any gaps

Be Decisive & Timely
• Give clear, unambiguous answers
• Input from boss when there’s much time BEFORE, not when it’s last minute & having a crisis

Be Accessible
• If I expect people to keep me informed about what’s going on, I need to be available when they see me
• Most people only turn to the boss when they need help

Demonstrate Honesty & Candor
• Don’t spend too much time on how to deliver news in a diplomatic way
• Be direct, yet objective & honest

Offer an Equitable Compensation Plan
• People want to be compensated fairly, in a way that reflects their contributions & they want to understand how the compensation works

Question
What do you expect from your boss?

Posts have been very sporadic due to time being spent on love, MBA studies & MichaelStephen. Decided to expand the sharing of some thoughts & insights beyond colleagues/friends/clients to the blogosphere as well. As usual discourse & discussion is most welcome including whether you find these reads interesting. The following post contains key points from an interesting article on what a manager usually expects from his/her direct reports reporting to him/her.

Photo Credit: Cafe Mon Amour by Valexina

Get Involved
• Delegation is very important but need to know when involvement is required
• Depends on judgment call but usually when:-
o Somebody is falling behind in his/her commitments
o When important personnel matters arise
o Conflict/crisis

Generate Ideas
• Hear what you have to say (and not what you think I want to hear)
• Even corny, funny, weird ideas – we can try it out!
• Come up with ideas as you are the best people to come up with ideas!

Collaboration/Working together
• Best if can work together & share credit
• Even if somehow you do not like someone, need to communicate & work together

Be Willing to Lead Initiatives
• Take a chance & take up challenging new projects
• It’s the best way to get noticed & climb the corporate ladder faster

Develop People as You Develop
• Take interest in your peers/subordinates expectations as in your own
• Get personally involved in performance appraisals
• Give specific & useful feedback (no ambiguity/vagueness)

Stay Current
• Read new, reports, etc & know what’s happening in the world
• Know how customers & the competition is changing
• Know how technology & world events are affecting customers strategies
• Customer relationships are an asset!

Anticipate
• Stay current to avoid risking a setback you should have anticipated
• The best people who are constantly looking around corners are best suited to leadership positions

Drive Your Own Growth
• Seek perpetual education & development (not only though studying, but through other people & ideas)
• Get feedback from your boss, peers & subordinates
• Accept demanding assignments & as you learn more than from cushy/simple projects

Be a Player for All Seasons
• Collaborate & offer ideas whether the company is growing with +20% profits, or -20% growth

Question
What do you think a manager expects from his/her employees?

Talking. To simply get a point across from one point to another.

Yet. Communication can be difficult as we all know that we each individually see things from different perspectives.

Photo Credit: priscilla~world

The Power Gap
Especially existent in the Asian workplace whereby we are so used to manager’s being on a totally different plateau from employees. Yet does this communication style really work begs to be asked? Consider though if a manager & his/her employee could be sitting side-by-side working together. A different set of results altogether. Respect doesn’t come with distance.

Assertive Communication

Assertive Communication = Behavior + Effects + Feelings

It’s about not being aggressive, nor passive
It’s about a balance & dialogue
It’s about being direct & focusing on the situation/effects
Yet an interesting point is knowing that putting feelings into the equation, actually makes it even more effective. The challenge would be to put in feelings, without being emotional.

Reflective Listening
“Let’s talk together”

Reflecting Listening = Paraphrase + Ask questions

Question
Do you practice assertive communication & reflective listening in your daily life? What barriers/challenges do you face?

Credit: Father and son by ~Gloredel

There was once a father who had two sons who he loved very much. He fed them, clothed them and paid for all their needs until they were both grown up.

One day, the father as he was slowly becoming advanced in years, decided to go into business. He used his savings and borrowed from lenders. When more funding was required, he borrowed some money from his two sons as well.

Unfortunately the business failed. But the debts still needed to be paid. Eventually the father paid of all his debts.

However, the eldest son believes that the father should pay interest for the amount owed.

Question
Should the father pay the eldest son as requested
Should it depend on any terms that the father and eldest son had discussed prior
Should the youngest son pay the eldest son the amount owed
Or are there any other alternatives?

Categories have been better aligned (1 post in 1 category only) & there’s a new category under “Love” as we expect to expand more posts in that category in the future. Also will be going through some previous unpublished drafts (from last year) and putting them up.

Photo Credit: xLittleWingx

It’s Only Words
Yet they have such a profound effect on all those around us. Sticks & stones may break our bones, yet the author’s pen or the poet’s word carries even more. The words we use. What we say. How we say it…

Let It Be Natural
Yet the key would be to remain natural. To speak your mind. To let honesty be what moves you forward. To laugh, delight, share and explore with your fellow men…

Reaching Out
To touch another person’s life, especially your loved ones. To build a human bridge that links one individual to another. For when the bulk of our communication is non-verbal, we sure would need to look beyond words to communicate…

It’s not the touch… but your personal human touch
That makes the difference

Ponder
How important is “real” communication in day-to-day life?