Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

One of the best gifts to give another is that they expect you to be consistent. This holds for managers on the job as well as grandparents at home.

‘Tis the season to give. Consider giving someone the ability to expect you to be consistent.

Let’s start with Grandparents: When my (absolutely adorable) grandchildren come to my house, they expect—among other things:

• greetings and hugs at the door
• fun
• a sit-down dinner with several of their favorite dishes

They expect these things because my wife and I provide them each time they visit. We are consistent.

Some definitions of consistent:

• Acting or done in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate
• Unchanging in nature, standard, or effect over time

Our grandchildren don’t suffer anxiety and uncertainty. They know what a visit to Grammy’s house brings. Feelings of doubt don’t exist. They are free to be joyous. They enjoy the gift of expectations.

Let’s move to Managers at Work: So much for a children’s story. Now to the nitty gritty and often ugly workplace.

Do the persons you lead and whose work you manage enjoy the gift of expectations? Are you consistent? Do you provide a consistent workplace? Do the persons about you suffer anxiety and uncertainty?

There are many things related to the workplace that I and my fellow managers cannot control, some examples are the economy at large, corporate tax rates, and changes in health care laws.

There are many things related to the workplace that I and my fellow managers can control. Foremost, we can control ourselves, how we act, and what we provide personally. We can be consistent. We can free our colleagues from much of the anxiety and uncertainty of the day. We can allow them the security to do their best work.

We can be consistent. We can give them expectations. Try it this giving season.