In the last few days I have had a similar conversation with a few different people who are dealing with staff and a familiar theme emerged.
They all asked why their staff don’t just do what is expected of them. “We ask nicely, we watch ‘how’ we ask them - we didn’t ‘tell’ them to do something and it is a fair request. We want them to do the task as per their job description and sometimes they just need to do it ‘because’.”
The frustration in their voices was clear – the staff have good working conditions, clear performance objectives and are paid fair and reasonably for the work they do without high stress for the majority of their jobs. And all they want to say to their staff is: ‘Just do the job… please.”
These are times when we are all tempted to go back to the old days of ‘authoritarian’ management principles of managing by fear and ‘Do as I say’ management. My father always told me to respect all managers and listen and do as required. I doubt that he ever challenged the managers or asked what’s in it for him or advised the working conditions aren’t conducive to a productive work environment.
Today, as if by magic, I found a great article on the KITA theory, which is not politically correct these days. For those of you who are wondering - it’s the Kick in the Ass theory, which at times is all you want to do! Funnily enough KITA works; it makes the staff members ‘move’ to work to a point but it won’t make them perform because they don’t have a personal goal along with the personal motivation. The article I found explains this and how to overcome it. Check it out as I have added it to the Resource Library under Leadership Development.
Back to 2009 – the truth is we have to nurture and provide an environment for staff that will help them engage in the bigger picture of the business and become a valued member of our teams. We have to help them set goals and help them along life’s work journey.
Hmmm… but a good KITA may still be the best option for some staff – surely we can add it into the leadership toolbox even if it’s a virtual KITA these days!