One manager in an Executive MBA class I teach told the group how he turned his workplace from a den of complaints into a place 
everybody suddenly likes to come. How? It was almost too simple to believe… at least until you factor in how the brain is wired for organizational change!
He told all employees… that he wanted to hear their problems. And there were many….
Then he dropped the clincher when he added, “Nobody’s problem is welcome though… unless you have thought about and can articulate a solution.”
Workers thought the idea novel, and it seemed like it would work until the next morning… when four problems came to his attention and he ignored them. Two came through in emails ... one arrived at his desk in person and one came through a phone call from a woman who needed the day off and had no way to cover work already due….
“There must be a solution in your message … or even a partial remedy suggested before I can hear your problem,” the manager insisted. Three of the four came back with ideas about email exchanges as a way to get out ads for review, and the fourth person dropped the problem altogether and came to work after he rescheduled his medical appointment.
Within days the workplace hopped with ideas, insights and solutions… and people told the manager how they felt like a key part of the company for the first time….
When we throw new solution possibilities at a problem… the human brain begins to wire itself to improve a situation…. Can you see that approach happening where you work…? If so… what approach could motivate others to try it out…?
» http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/07/post_14.html from BrainBasedBusiness
GL wrote an interesting post at “What Would Dad Say,” titled Get Engaged In his words… “The best career move you can make is TO GET ENGAGED AT YOUR JOB. If you can do this, or learn to do this, you... [Read More]
Tracked on: July 11, 2006 8:46 AM | Permalink to Trackback