What Makes a Good Manager? Not Tacky Timing!

How’s this for timing? On Thursday, five percent of a company are told they are being retrenched. The very next day the CEO sends out an email reminding everybody they are required to attend the company’s strategy day. She signs off by saying, “Please bring your positive attitude and good ideas.”

This is a perfect example of what not to do if you want to become an effective manager.

One of the biggest assets of a good manager is empathy and this CEO has none!

If you're on the end of tacky timing let the person know their timing isn't working for you. “Jonathan, I really appreciate what you’re trying to get across, but I’m in the middle of a tight deadline. Let’s talk tomorrow.” Or in the case of the insensitive CEO, “I understand the strategy meeting was scheduled for today and you want it to go well, but in light of what happened yesterday, I think you’ll understand that we are feeling uncertain about our own positions and sad for our colleagues who are leaving.”

Click here if you want to know what makes an effective manager.

Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh