What Employees Want for Christmas – The Gift of Clarity

By Michelle Malay Carter on December 22, 2008 

The Gift of Clarity-A clear picture of their role, and clear assignments.

-A role matched to their current cognitive capability level.

-Accountability matched with requisite authority.

-A manager who adds value to their thinking.? (aka has cognitive capacity one level higher than the employee)

-Explicitly defined role relationships with others?as arranged by their manager.? Employees?shouldn’t be left to beg or manipulate others to get their work done.?(For example, if A and B disagree, who decides?? If A needs services from B, what is B’s obligation to A?? If A recommends something to B, must B do it or can B choose to decline idea?)

–Felt fair pay.

The Alternative
Or, you could hire them into a role that bores them to tears, and then micromanage them on the details while leaving them to guess about their role and assignments and then coach them for not being better at reading your mind.? You can send them off to fight like a contentious sibling with peers and colleagues in order to get their work done, and?then tie?up?a large percentage of their pay in a?bonus plan that they really cannot influence one way or another.? And round it off with a?polo shirt with your company’s logo?and a season’s greetings card.

I’m OK.? You’re OK.? Let’s fix the system.

Filed Under Accountability, Employee Engagement, Managerial Leadership, Requisite Organization, Talent Management, Work Levels

Comments

5 Responses to “What Employees Want for Christmas – The Gift of Clarity”

  1. Scot Herrick on December 22nd, 2008 6:10 pm

    To be valued for our results and not whether we walked in the door the day after a blizzard five minutes late.

    To be treated like an adult — tell us what is happening so we can help.

    And…what else?

  2. Michelle Malay Carter on December 23rd, 2008 9:42 am

    Hi Scot,

    Sounds like a reasonable list to me. Thanks for the comment.

    Michelle

  3. Forrest Christian on December 24th, 2008 11:34 am

    You know, the first part could be summarized as “Getting a Real Boss rather than this Moron”.

    Happy Christmas, Michelle!

  4. Michelle Malay Carter on December 24th, 2008 12:54 pm

    Hi Forrest,

    Merry Christmas to you and your family!

    Just remember one man’s moron is another’s dream boss. I’m OK. You’re OK. Let’s fix the system (after the holidays).

    Michelle

  5. Alicia Parr on December 29th, 2008 10:48 am

    The alternative looks terrifyingly familiar. Happy Holidays Michelle!