Managing Sticky Situations at Work

Sticky Situations with Subordinates 83confused. But, you and Jeff and Rita were going to different places onthe same day, and I didn’t get a chance to do the recheck.’’Boss: ‘‘Are you saying, I put the wrong attachment to my e-mail toyou?’’Assistant: ‘‘This has happened before. We all are overloaded. But, Iusually double-check.’’Boss: ‘‘How can we prevent this from happening in the future? Idon’t want to be caught like that again.’’Assistant: ‘‘Maybe we can work on the schedule. It helps if we don’thave more than two major presentations leaving on the same day. Aslight adjustment would have helped all of us.’’Boss: ‘‘That’s a great idea. I’ll bring it up at the next team meeting.’’As Stone et al. suggest, when the boss and the assistant listen to oneanother without placing blame, they learn more about what caused theproblem and can look objectively for a solution.STICKY SITUATION #10:DISCIPLINING THE BOSS’S DAUGHTERIvan manages an architectural team, which includes two otherarchitects, Mac and Lois, and one assistant, Emily. The companydesigns retail structures often for local governments. Mac andLois have strengths that complement each other, and they workwell together. Lois has a bent toward keeping the project environmentallysound while Mac’s strengths lie in utility and contemporarydesign. Emily’s job is to support the team. She takes theplans to the production department, and she does some of the lettering.Emily complains that her job is boring. She often forgets topick up plans or to complete the necessary paperwork to makedeliveries. She rarely comes to work on time, and her lunch hoursstretch longer and longer each day. More often than not, Ivancatches her on personal calls or texting her friends during theworkday. Ivan has spoken to her about these problems, but sheshrugs and says, ‘‘I’m just bored. Why shouldn’t I talk to myfriends when I want? There’s not enough work here to keep mebusy.’’