by Mark Davison
October 18. 2011 14:37
Good managers tell staff what they want to hear and also what they don’t want to hear, but need to hear, to optimize performance and growth.
Staff wants to hear…
- Thanks for arriving early
- I’m glad you’re here
- I’m glad you’re on this project
- You have great skills and experience
- You’re off to a great start
- Great idea
- Great question
- Excellent report
- Thanks for sending that email
- Your progress is on track, lets move on to the next steps
- Great work, we’re going to implement your recommendations
- I couldn’t have done it better myself
- Keep up the good work
- Everybody makes mistakes, I’m sure you’ll do better next time
- How can I help?
- You got this assignment because I'm confident you can do it well
- Thank you for all your hard work
- I’m recommending you for promotion
- I’m recommending you for a raise
Staff doesn’t want to, but should, hear … (but you need to tell them anyway)
- I need you to arrive earlier
- I’ll be watching your work closely to be sure you get it right
- What is your role on this project again?
- You need to speak up
- You need to do this assignment over and get it right
- You are not off to a great start, you need to make some corrections
- You need some new ideas, go back to your desk and work on them
- You are underperforming, you can do better
- You have a lot to learn before you are ready for additional responsibility
- Don’t bring me your problems, think how you would handle them and bring me solutions
- You should know better than to have made that mistake
- You need to work smarter and harder
- I’m not recommending you for a raise
- I’m not recommending you for promotion
- You need to listen better
- You need to work better with others
by Mark Davison
October 17. 2011 10:53
Use these “persuading” words to increase your influence and effectiveness when working with others…
- Accurate
- Ambition
- Beyond
- Clean
- Complete
- Courtesy
- Drive
- Economical
- Efficient
- Energetic
- Enormous
- Exceed
- Excel
- Focused
- Growth
- Health
- Maximum
- Motivated
- Necessary
- Performance
- Power
- Professional
- Progress
- Quality
- Results
- Satisfy
- Scientific
- Sociable
- Status
- Successful
- Sympathy
- Teamwork
- Tested
- Thinking
- Thorough
- Thoughtful
- Time-saving
- Value
by Mark Davison
October 13. 2011 16:49
Politics is a business fact of life – learn to play it well by refining the ways in which you communicate your work efforts and accomplishments to others. Use your communications skills to shape others’ perceptions of you. You want to be known as competent and capable.
- Don’t be cynical, critical or negative – be supportive and positive. It’s OK to question others and express different opinions, but be a smart team player and go with the flow and support decisions or actions you may not fully agree with
- Put the time in and develop a reputation of being a hard worker. Get to work early and stay late. Work in the evenings and on weekends if necessary. Others will notice and respect you for your effort and commitment.
- Keep others informed about your work. Update your boss as frequently as he needs it, more frequently if he says he doesn’t need it. Choose the right methods to communicate. Copy others on emails and other messages as needed to keep them in the loop. Return emails, text messages and phone calls timely. Use face-to-face meetings, either in person or via Webex or Skype, as needed.
- Take advantage of opportunities to “volunteer” for additional work on ad hoc teams, special projects, volunteer activities, intramural teams, etc. Each opportunity offers the chance to meet new people, make new contacts, and build your growing reputation. It also gives others a chance to get to know you.
- Recognize the accomplishments of others. When someone is promoted or recognized for an accomplishment, send them a note of congratulations. When someone new joins the team, welcome him or her in person or send him or her a welcome message. When someone leaves, wish him or her success or send him or her an email for success in his or her new opportunity. When someone makes a contribution to one of your projects, thank them or send them a message for their file.
by Mark Davison
October 11. 2011 13:37
Sometimes when project managers go through tough times on a project they can become tentative and cautious. They tend to be more careful in their actions and decisions – likely because they are more uncertain about the outcome. The result can be erosion of personal and managerial authority, influence and control.
Remain confident and strong. Resist the temptation to reel in the talents and capabilities that make a PM successful. Empower. Tough times and tough projects require leadership, decisive action, strength and momentum. Your team is likely depending on your authority and confidence. Go on offense and make things happen.
by Mark Davison
October 7. 2011 09:03
Evaluate each assignment or task
Define the factors that will determine priority
Understand the consequences of priorities on assignments/tasks
Determine the priority of each assignment/task
Ask for help if needed – from colleagues, associates, managers, etc.
Finalize the priorities
Hold unprioritized assignments/tasks in a “parking lot” for the next review
by Mark Davison
October 6. 2011 09:41
Get along with others
Do more than expected; go above and beyond
Be thrifty with company resources
Keep others informed
Drive for results
Thank others for their contributions
Be thoughtful and considerate
by Mark Davison
October 5. 2011 18:05
… Is a valuable tool.
Pay attention when others are talking
Avoid distractions
Close the door
Hold of on responding to calls, emails and text messages
Don’t pre-judge
Avoid formulating a response while other are talking
Remain open to new ideas
by Mark Davison
October 4. 2011 15:22
When wrapping up at the end of a day, do this to keep the project’s work moving forward: make a few notes about today’s accomplishments, issues and the next steps, i.e., where the project needs to go next. Then, when you return tomorrow, you can pick exactly where you left off. No guessing about what to do next.