Managing Sticky Situations at Work
Managing Sticky Situations at Work
Managing Sticky Situations at Work
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
86 <strong>Managing</strong> <strong>Sticky</strong> <strong>Situ<strong>at</strong>ions</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Work</strong>Emily looks up from the magazine she’s flipping through. ‘‘I raninto a lot of traffic and just couldn’t get back yesterday. Wh<strong>at</strong> do youexpect me to do?’’‘‘I realize th<strong>at</strong> you might have had some trouble getting back, butyou left <strong>at</strong> 10. You did not return until 3:30. The fact is we must getthe designs before noon. Wh<strong>at</strong> can you do to get them here whenwe need them?’’ (Invites Emily to talk without placing blame.)‘‘I guess I could leave earlier.’’‘‘The production building is five blocks away. I do not see how leavingearlier will resolve the problem.’’‘‘Lois spends forever in the break room with her friends. I don’t seewhy you are blaming me for not getting back sooner.’’Ivan takes a deep bre<strong>at</strong>h. ‘‘I gave you this job because your f<strong>at</strong>herthought you could learn something. He had confidence in you, and Iagreed to give you a chance. I’m beginning to think th<strong>at</strong> I may havemade the wrong decision. This might not be the best fit.’’ (Takesblame himself for making the wrong decision r<strong>at</strong>her than placingblame on her.)Her eyes flash and she closes the magazine. ‘‘Wh<strong>at</strong> are you saying?’’‘‘I’m simply saying th<strong>at</strong> we must get the designs before noon. If th<strong>at</strong>is too difficult for you, then we need to find someone who can do th<strong>at</strong>for us. We never had a problem with the interns we hired from the collage.Your f<strong>at</strong>her may need to find another spot for you in the firm.How do you feel about th<strong>at</strong>?’’ (St<strong>at</strong>es consequences.)‘‘I like working here. It’s just th<strong>at</strong> I get so bored. All I do is copy letteringonto the designs and run errands. I am going crazy. My dad saidI’d learn something about architecture. All I’ve learned is how to findthe duplic<strong>at</strong>ing building.’’‘‘I hope you can understand my frustr<strong>at</strong>ion, Emily. I’d love to giveyou more meaningful work to do. We’ve got hundreds of bushes andtrees th<strong>at</strong> need to be sketched into the two projects we got back yesterday.Th<strong>at</strong> might be something you could do. But, I can’t give youany more tasks when you don’t perform wh<strong>at</strong> I’ve already givenyou.’’ (Joins feelings with facts.)Her face brightens. ‘‘I’d love to draw some bushes and trees. I coulddo th<strong>at</strong>. Please give me a chance.’’Ivan shakes his head. ‘‘I can’t give you a chance until I’m sure youwill get the designs to us by noon. The reality is if we don’t get themtomorrow, we will miss our deadline. I suspect your f<strong>at</strong>her will be verydisappointed with all of us if th<strong>at</strong> happens.’’ (Rest<strong>at</strong>es consequences.)
Change language