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Everyday Leader Monthly Tip: Relationships at Work
October 02, 2009


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From www.Better-Leadership.com

Relationships at Work: A Simple Fix 

SITUATION:
Some work relationships seem to just BARELY be functioning. If they are not in conflict, they are tentative and feel far from secure.
These may include relationships with:

        - key customer groups
        - other departments that we rely on
        - support functions (like accounting, HR, facilities)
        - senior leadership
          (OMG, don't make me ask them how do you feel about that?)
        - suppliers or others that have a stake in your production


KNOW THIS:

The MOST underutilized conversation at work is the expectations-sharing conversation. It should be a regularly occurring one, yet is the most often ignored.

TRY THIS:

Hold an Expectations-Setting Session to define and improve relationships.  Doesn't need to be a biggie. Include one or more of the following:

  • Clarification around what has recently changed in the work environment that may have affected the relation between the two parties
  • Positive feedback on those items that are working well
  • What you presently expect of the other party and what they expect of you
  • Education of the other party about your priorities and your requirements for DIRTFT* 
  • Shared and contradicting priorities
  • Ideas and further feedback
  • Setting a new system or validating an existing one for sharing communication, such as quarterly meetings, priority reports, Top Ten issues lists, etc.
PS - I call this a simple fix because its approach is rather straightforward, and not difficult to understand.  But realize that simple does not necessarily mean easy. Oh well.


* Doing It Right The First Time a/k/a how to get your job done well

Is Your Boss a Bully?

Find out more about what it takes to be placed in this illustrious category, or measure your workplace for toxicity.  See the good advice at Bully Free Work.  

Website News

For Women: New Link into LinkedIn 

Picture yourself in a room full of other women, with leadership positions similar to yours. These women are talking about growing as leaders, developing better skills, and networking with each other to gain strength and clarity. These women may be looking for work-life balance ideas, or a great class for writing their leadership story. Or they may just like feeling like they belong somewhere.

For those women, I have formed a LINKEDIN GROUP -
                            called Women In Leadership Group. 

                Please Join!

If the link above does not get you there, either look for the red oval in my list of LinkedIn groups on my profile, or search groups for:      
                            "Women in Leadership Group."    
(Be sure to put all 4 of those words in quotes. If you leave out "Group," you will get a few hundred in your list.)

     
If you are not on LinkedIn, you might be an outdated has-been soon. The use of electronics is an incredibly powerful way to activate your rolodex electronically. More on that later.

Others need fixing?

Share RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK with a Friend

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