We posted a blog a few years ago that shone a spotlight on the dangers of under-management; sure, no one likes to be micro-managed, and certainly no-one wants to be seen as a micro manager.
Unfortunately what we’ve seen recently is a run of similar challenges across a number of businesses that could have been nipped in the bud if they had been managed well and early. Whether it’s a fear of being seen as a micro manager, avoiding conflict, or just not seeing the need, we’re currently supporting a number of clients with issues that should have been non-issues.
Here’s a summary of recent examples (from businesses across a range of industries, and with any identifying specifics changed). And if you think you’re reading about yourself – don’t worry, some version of each example here has happened more than once, so chances are it’s not you, but someone going through the same things you are.
He’s made a number of questionable comments to some of the females on the team over the past few months, but he’s been with us for ages and he’s great at his job, and I know he didn’t mean anything by it, it’s just a bit of harmless fun, so I left it. Now one of the females has laid a formal harassment complaint against him and I don’t know what to do.
Her performance has only been average at best for the past 18 months, and I’ve had enough of it, so she’s got to go.
They never turn up to the scheduled weekly meetings, there’s always something more pressing
Two of my team members, who are both really good at their own jobs, just can’t get on with each other – if they don’t sort it out soon, I think one of them will go, and I want them both to stay.
He doesn’t do the right thing, he works loads of hours, but I just don’t know what he does in a day, and he’s not getting the results I need.
I shouldn’t have to tell them to do that, they’re the team leaders, they should know.
As you’re reading these examples you may well be smiling wryly because you’re facing something similar…in each case it’s easy to sit on the outside and see how an early conversation could have prevented a bad situation, but for most of us, for whatever reason, there’s a block to an early – and generally simple - conversation.
These calls have reminded me of that earlier blog – under management is definitely at play in these cases. Click here if you want to check it out, it’s worth a read. And the link within it that leads to three development steps you can take if your think you’re suffering from under management in your business – that’s the gold!