Archive for December, 2009
…there are a lot of people talking behind each others’ backs in your office?
You might try what one of my friends did this week, and in so doing, took a huge step on the road to being a truly great boss. He confessed to talking behind other people’s backs himself, and then said he was going to do his best to stop such nonproductive behavior. He encouraged people to be more direct with their concerns and complaints, and pledged to do the same.
Nelson Mandela
“Where did you get that idea?” I asked. He confessed he was inspired by a movie he saw this weekend, “Invictus,” in which Nelson Mandela attempts to lead his fledgling democracy by example.
(Good thing you didn’t see “Bitch Slap,” I replied.)
NOTE TO READERS: If you have a burning question…What do you do when….? send it along, and we’ll try to find you an answer.
One morning in early December.
The end of the semester at UWM, where I teach business students, is fast approaching, and it is typically the time when students give their final presentations.
This semester I’ve had a record number of students ask to postpone their chance to stand in front of the class, most of them citing fear. When I give reporting assignments to English and journalism students, students say they much prefer to send emails than call people with questions, even in cases when it’s likely to be far less efficient.
College-based career counselors worry that their students have far more difficulty with personal interviews and following up by phone after interviews than past generations. It’s great that they are experts at internet access, but that’s not enough. To succeed in the job market, the student of today needs to get comfortable looking people in the eye and stating their case. They also need to know how to read the cues conveyed in a phone call — the tone of voice, pauses, etc.
College teachers and employers of younger workers: please offer more opportunities for oral participation at school and at work. Asking questions, especially, is a skill that needs to be promoted heavily. Reward curiosity!
Q. I received an intriguing letter from an expert in my field proposing a promising joint project. But before I could invite her in for an interview, my colleagues “googled” her and discovered that she has a criminal history. The crime has been paid for, plus the search also turned up people who spoke highly on her behalf. Should I cancel the meeting or go ahead with it?
A. Neither. Before you commit yourself either way, contact her and ask her about it. Explain how you found out about her past and say you want to have a full accounting. Her reaction — open and disclosing or secretive and defensive — will likely give you a good indication as to whether it’s worth meeting with her.
