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June 18, 2004

2:02 pm | 0 recommendations | 2 comments

Atttacking Lack of Tact

| posted by Heath Row

Thanks to Rob at BusinessPundit for bringing this useful handbook from the Regent Business Review to our attention -- How to Lose Friends and Infuriate People: A Manager's Guide.

The 15-point primer is an insightful -- and potentially incendiary -- walk through some of the more egregious examples of lacking tact in the workplace. Some highlights:

  • When an employee is in your office to talk with you, don't hesitate to answer your phone.
  • Ask people to do work outside of their job description.
  • Interpret all suggestions for improvement as personal attacks on your leadership.

Were we to flip this listing on its ear, we could come up with some very good things to do -- practices and processes that could help our projects, teams, and organizations work more smoothly. How many of these are you guilty of? How many have you personally experienced? How did you respond?

Tags: Management, teamwork
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Recent Comments | 2 Total

June 18, 2004 at 3:29pm

Valeria
Reading through the whole list I realized that I have experienced all of the outlined behaviors coming from one single person: what an achievement! The person exhibiting these behaviors is usually not receptive. Communication in their view does not include listening on their part nor paying attention. They do not wonder about the experience of them or their wake. In my experience, it is best to focus on the issues at hand rather than the behaviors so things do not cross over to the personal sphere. I'd like to comment on the very appropriate title: lack of tact. Tact has the same root as touch. People who engage in such behaviors do not connect with others.
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June 21, 2004 at 1:30pm

Lisa
The only one I wonder about is asking people to work outside their job description. Is that always a bad thing? In the past, I've welcomed the opportunity to gain experience in other apects of publishing outside of my field.
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