Standard Podcast [2:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1762)

Fortunately, most people are naturally warm, loving and caring of the feelings of their co-workers. Some are such willing listeners they even become the office shoulder to cry on.

But on the downside, making hard decisions can be challenging for super nice people because every decision produces winners and losers. And the prospect of creating disappointed losers is unsavory. To avoid discomfort, sometimes they won’t make a decision at all, or make it vague, such as, “Well, maybe we can change the brand of coffee, as long as it’s a better one.” And if a decision is made, don’t be surprised if it gets amended in order to keep the peace.

What if Mr. Nice Guy is your boss? What can you do to have a successful and satisfying relationship?

Don’t try to toughen him up; instead, be supportive and sensitive. Discuss feelings as a valid issue. Listen for his concerns. Discuss how people will be affected. For example, if you want to change the seating pattern in the office, talk in terms of how it could promote better harmony and working relationships. Ask probing questions to help him clarify his thinking. Offer solutions.

Make a decision stick by helping implement it, supporting deadlines, and giving regular feedback. Ask for a memo outlining the change and if you don’t get it, consider writing it yourself and then asking, “Boss, to make sure I’m clear on what you want, I typed out the details. Do I have this the way you meant it?” This isn’t necessary with every decision (that would be patronizing) but it helps to commit the important decisions to writing.

Bookmark and Share

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Ask backflip blinklist BlogBookmark Bloglines BlogMarks Blogsvine BuddyMarks BUMPzee! CiteULike co.mments Connotea del.icio.us

Digg diigo DotNetKicks DropJack dzone Facebook Fark Faves Feed Me Links Friendsite folkd.com Furl Google

Hugg Jamespot Jeqq Kaboodle kirtsy linkaGoGo LinkedIn LinksMarker Ma.gnolia Mister Wong Mixx MySpace MyWeb

Netvouz Newsvine oneview OnlyWire PlugIM Propeller Reddit Rojo Segnalo Shoutwire Simpy Slashdot Sphere

Sphinn Spurl Squidoo StumbleUpon Technorati ThisNext Twitter Webride Windows Live Worlds Movies Yahoo!

Email This to a Friend

Copy HTML: 

 If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

More »

Powered by Bookmarkify™

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 15th, 2008 at 5:00 am and is filed under Podcast. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.