08-03-12, 11:54 AM
Let them spout off and annotate any matters of fact or things you want to chin them on...Then apologise that they have cleary been upset and that as a manager your job is very much to get to the bottom of things and drive any changes neccessary. then pick up your pencil and a clean piece of paper and say 'Let's write this down to make sure we have the details correct and agreed - then against the principal issues we will agree and action plan and agree the priority actions' -- most importantly we must be able to trust each other and be working in concert to achieve the quickest possible resolution.
No 1 rule..it's difficult to fight someone who is agreeing with you - has empathy and tries to see your point of view.
Rule No 2...don't pander to them..if there is some bad news give it to them as part of your 'agreed' strategy..get their finger prints on it...encompass their ideas if they are sensible and positively park them by the side of the road if they are bollix.
You simply have to manage them, your demeanour and how quickly you grasp and deal with what you are presented with is what marks you out.
If you get any pre reading and they give you paper to write on..don't...write small salient and intuitive notes on the pre-reading itself..this trick will stop you writing stuff you don't need to which is already in there...and they will often pick this material up for analysis.
Just been through the process myself and had fun with it.
No 1 rule..it's difficult to fight someone who is agreeing with you - has empathy and tries to see your point of view.
Rule No 2...don't pander to them..if there is some bad news give it to them as part of your 'agreed' strategy..get their finger prints on it...encompass their ideas if they are sensible and positively park them by the side of the road if they are bollix.
You simply have to manage them, your demeanour and how quickly you grasp and deal with what you are presented with is what marks you out.
If you get any pre reading and they give you paper to write on..don't...write small salient and intuitive notes on the pre-reading itself..this trick will stop you writing stuff you don't need to which is already in there...and they will often pick this material up for analysis.
Just been through the process myself and had fun with it.
The Frying Scotsman