Page 97 - Anne Bruce - Building A HIgh Morale Workplace (2002)

Putting the Kibosh on Negativity 77

consider taking an
Plan to Be
employee budgeting class Spontaneous!
through the organization’s Help your employees plan

corporate university or at a to be spontaneous.This may seem like
local community college. a paradox—because it is. Explain that
To continue her growth, the scope of responsibility may
Sarah may want to follow change at any moment, depending on
unforeseen circumstances, and that
up with introductory man-
planning is key.Tell them that adapting
agement courses and
to unplanned scenarios is part of the
advanced math skills as
job and that, when this happens, it’s
well to better prepare for perfectly OK to broaden the scope of
future opportunities and responsibility. But again, be clear here

promotions within the as to what “broaden the scope of
department. Each requires responsibility” means to you. Leave
a step-by-step, specific no room for guesswork.
action.
Document all of the action steps that Sarah agrees to take

and call this Sarah’s “course of action.” Give a copy of this doc-
ument to Sarah and keep one for your file. At the next review,
this document will serve as the platform for measuring progress
toward the agreed-upon standards of performance.

Step 5. Watch what people are doing and respond. Don’t wait

a few months or until the next scheduled review with your
employee to check up on things. Observe and give feedback to
employees while the job’s in progress. This sends out a strong
message that you’re there
to help and be supportive.
Warning! Don’t

Step 6. Be specific about Ignore the
what can be expected Obvious
Pay attention. Keep your eyes open
when goals are met. Let
and observe what’s going on around
every employee know
you at all times.You don’t have to
what’s in it for him or her
wait for a review to do that.
for meeting or exceeding Observation remains one of the best
expectations and goals set and least expensive measurement
forth in his or her course of tools a manager can use.