Page 141 - Becoming a Successful Manager

132 ESTABLISHING A SOLID DEPARTMENTAL FOUNDATION

To help you incorporate constructive criticism as a teaching
tool, adopt the following attitudes:

• Criticisms are gifts my team members deserve. It’s my
responsibility as a manager to provide them.
• When delivering my gift it should include what specifi cally I
want, need, or expect, without adversely judging anyone as
a prelude to the request.
• Never criticize emotions, since emotions are neither right
nor wrong.
• Only criticize behavior, never the person.
• It is kinder to be gently direct than cruelly silent.

How to Gain Cooperation from Other

Managers Without Being Critical

There will be times when you need the cooperation of other man-
agers but are not getting it. Usually, these managers will tell you
they are too busy and can’t spare the time. Although you may be
angry and be tempted to criticize (actually, adversely judge) them,
or to give them a piece of your mind, that’s not a good idea. Doing
so would likely spoil your chances of getting what you want or
need from them.
In such cases, criticism is inappropriate. So, resist the tempta-
tion of criticizing noncooperative fellow managers. Keep your eyes
on your objective, which is to obtain what you need from them.
Make it easy for them to give you what you want. Don’t hand them
an excuse to reject you.
An approach that has been successful follows these steps:
engage, acknowledge, present, request. Engage them in a discus-