Your Employees Will Save Your Sorry A**. Really.

Before, during blissful ignorance.

The other day I wrote about how complaints make their way up to top-level management – and the reason that happens is because complaints aren’t addressed early and that they are just basically lousy managers. And this means you Mr./Ms. Partner, CEO, or Thought-Leader (ugh!).

The direct result of blissful ignorance.

If you’re such a bloody visionary, then why are things late, wrong, and over budget in your agency or department?

Disruptive thinking won’t fix what’s not working. Oh, a new paradigm?

Nope.

Let’s go back in time.

Some guy came up with a thing. A thing that would make the world better and make him a whole lot of money. Like a car.

So this guy started making cars. He figured a way to make them better, faster and cheaper. He made money, his employees made money, and everyone bought a house. Then everyone started applying this amazing process to the way they made cars.

Competition.

Fast forward to, oh about, 1975. That same company with that guy’s name, was turning out pure shit at a killer pace. His employees didn’t care (well I’m sure some did), as long as they finished their job and got a paycheck at the end of the week. They continued to buy houses.

Then another company started making better cars. Employees cared about the product. THEY gave input on how to make cars better. Management listened and rewarded them for their suggestions. They continued to improve until one day…they were the largest car manufacturer in the world. Their employees bought houses too.

Ask your employees and they will tell you what is wrong and what needs to be improved. And even a little bonus – they’ll probably tell you how to do it.

Because you, up there in your awesome office, don’t have a clue about what’s going on. That’s because you don’t ask anyone anything. And my hunch is that you actually think you know more than they do.

So, once again, a major shout-out to those who do the work. The ones who show up and crank out creative stuff every day despite the lousy leadership, paradigm disruptions and whatever new management philosophy is adopted from the latest thought-leader guru.

It’s so simple. But I’m sure the last thing you want to hear is the truth.

But if you’re tired of complaints, and really want to fix it, at the very least find out what’s going on.

If you have the nerve.

And something else, about this disruptive thinking thing, employees actually do like a little routine. They like to know what to expect, plan their day and get their work done…for you.

Imagine that. Productivity.

It’s Management’s Fault When Complaints Percolate Up

When something’s wrong and no one is doing anything about it, those become complaints – and they move up the chain of command.

Each time a complaint moves up a step means someone hasn’t addressed it.

So, when a complaint reaches the Partner, VP, CEO – or other high-ranking individual in your agency or department – that means someone isn’t doing their job.

Most of the time it’s mid-level management’s responsibility to address the complaint and take corrective action.

That's if they recognize it AND can do something about it.

Sometimes, there's so much dysfunction that what's considered a complaint is just the way you do business.

Sometimes it’s the leaders who create the dysfunction and make it impossible for people to do their jobs well.

Well, actually, that’s usually the case.

What I find remarkable is the ability of those who are ‘managed’ to actually get work done in that atmosphere. They show up for work every day, do their jobs – usually with a sense of hopefully getting it right because there’s no clear direction.

The reality of it all is dysfunction doesn’t start at the bottom, because if it did, astute management would fix it. They would know how to fix it. They would inspire their staff to work together, and lay out clear plans to do so.

So, when complaints percolate up it’s because you, Senior Partner, didn’t do your job.

Bummer when it’s your fault.

Remembering Carol Nashe

Carol Nashe was a friend and a colleague. She passed away on Friday, January 24.  There was no obituary in the Las Vegas Review Journal, however there was one in the Boston Globe – it is here.

She was undeniably a Bostonian, with a thick dialect, and a strident sense of right and wrong.

She was a consummate professional who never hesitated to call anyone out on a careless indiscretion, and always graciously accepted an apology – then proceeded on to do business.

Carol Nashe

I got to know Carol while involved in the local live blues scene here in Las Vegas. Her son is a musician, and she managed his band, BluesStorm. This white-haired lady had no problem walking into any bar (and this is Vegas) to meet the owner and make a deal to get her band into the venue.

She did the contracts, followup, promotion – and always made it to their gigs.

All this while dealing with health issues that would put any of us on the DL whining like babies.

She had a remarkable backstory that isn’t mine to share; but she overcame monumental odds that could put just about everyone I know to shame.

She just didn’t complain.

Carol was grateful for every. single. day.

I am better for having known Carol.

I worked with Carol as founding members of the Las Vegas Blues Society. And she should be honored for the work she put into the organization.

Carol was the only founding member still on the board that was founded in 2006.

Her name still appears on the website.

News of her passing does not.

And that, my friends, is inexcusable.

I hope the board gets their collective act together and do what’s right and let all the people who go to their site know that one of their own; one who was part of forming the organization; one who remained active on the board through all the various incarnations; deserves recognition for her years of service.

As of this post (Sunday, February 2, 2014, 2pm PST) there is nothing about Carol.

Whining about needing a webmaster doesn’t cut it. The site’s built in SquareSpace, so if you can log in and type, you can post something really nice about someone who always showed up despite the obstacles she faced.

I'm sure if anyone on the board reads this they'll be pissed at me. 

That's okay, I have no problem calling someone out on an indiscretion. I'll bet Carol would do that.