Beyond Folders : communication skills, management tools

Communicating Better With Your Boss

Community Manager — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 14:33:00 GMT

If men are from Mars and women from Venus, what planets do bosses and direct reports occupy? Smart workers strive to be on the same planet, er, page as their boss. Direct, unambiguous and mutually respectful communications are key.

Too often communication breaks down between bosses and direct reports because neither is speaking the same language: expectations are out of sync. For example, the boss may want an overview but the employee provides minute detail. Or vice versa.

Here are five strategies to ensure that you are communicating effectively with your boss.

Be prepared.

Unless you're making casual water cooler chitchat, be sure to be organized before all verbal and e-mail interactions.

Be direct.

Don't beat around the bush. Direct, unambiguous communication is more professional than soft-pedaling information. Be polite, but be direct. Likewise, if your boss gives you negative feedback, keep your cool and respond neutrally.

Be a good listener.

Communication is a two-way street. You need to listen and truly understand what you're being told. If you're at all confused, ask for clarification. And maintain good eye contact so your boss knows you're listening. Everyone wants to be heard.

Be there.

Face-to-face conversations are a must for good relationships. Don't allow the ease of e-mail to entirely supplant personal contact.

Be clear.

Before ending your chat with your boss, make certain that each of you understands the next steps, strategies, etc. that you have agreed upon. This puts you on the same page going forward.

Do you communicate effectively with your boss? What tips do you have for keeping open channels of communication? Share your thoughts here and at the Beyond Folders Facebook page.

by Carly Fadako

When You Don’t Work with Mind-Readers

Community Manager — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:14:00 GMT

How many times in life have you wished you had a superpower? Leaping tall buildings in a single bound or seeing through walls? Nice work if you can get it but for those of us who can't read minds (and don't work with those who can) effective and clear communication skills are a must.

Great Expectations

Effective leaders set expectations for those who follow them. No matter your role-general, boss, teacher, parent-your underlings will not meet your expectations unless you clearly define them.

Expectations are milestones against which progress is measured. If expectations are not clear, people can become hesitant or indecisive. We've assembled a list of resources here that help managers effectively set expectations for their employees.

A tip that I found to be particularly useful was not to "over-operationalize a job" meaning don't put all of the focus on describing the steps to follow. Rather, define the outcome and let the employee get to a successful conclusion their own way. Sound advice. For more helpful tips, read the following articles:

How do you set and communicate expectations? Share your thoughts here and on the Beyond Folders Community's Facebook and Twitter pages.

How to be a Better Boss

Community Manager — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:13:00 GMT

The hit show "Undercover Boss" is rolling out a new season featuring CEOs from mega-brands such as NASCAR and Chiquita slipping anonymously into their companies' rank and file. These honchos get an up-close, warts and all look at their companies' inner workings and leave enlightened about how to better run their company and be more effective bosses.

While the show makes for entertaining TV, going undercover within your workforce isn't the only way to become a better boss. We've collected an assortment of resources that can inspire you to become a more effective and trusted leader. Subordinates should read on as well; these articles are a two-way street, providing useful tips for improving interactions with your supervisors.

Tune In

Stanford professor Robert I. Sutton, and author of the upcoming Good Boss, Bad Boss, says good bosses work diligently to "stay in tune" with how their employees-and superiors, peers, and customers-react to what they say and do. These bosses realize that success depends on having the self-awareness to control their moods and moves, to accurately interpret their impact on others and to continuously make adjustments that inspire hard-work, pride and a sense of dignity amongst their workforce. In short, good bosses have well-honed, well-practiced emotional intelligence.

For more insight from Bob Sutton, read his blog post 12 Things Good Bosses Believe at the Harvard Business Review.

Coach, Not Control

Serial entrepreneur and columnist for U.S. News and World report G.L. Hoffman recommends bosses take a page out of the playbook of football coaches. Hoffman argues that the leadership qualities that translate into Super Bowl victories can be put into play at work. Hoffman says that putting people into positions where they can succeed is crucial as is developing players: successful teams have MVPs and the guy who carries the Gatorade. All play a crucial role in the team's success. Sports enthusiasts, read on for tips that may win you Coach, I mean, Boss of the Year: Manage like a Football Coach-22 Ways to Be a Better Boss.

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Author, executive and mother-of-three Shari Storm believes raising children is a powerful management training system. In her witty and wise book Motherhood Is the New MBA: Using Your Parenting Skills to Be a Better Boss, Storm shares tips for managing your workforce that were honed on the toughest of underlings, young children. Storm suggests bosses create a family environment where everyone is invested in the well-being of the whole, that they set a calm and collected tone for the group and that they hold the line on tantrums. Sage advice for both the work and home fronts. For more on Storm's parenting-***-leadership advice, read Parenting 101: How to Be a Better Boss at Work and Home.

What makes a boss good or bad? Do you have tips for being a better boss? Share your thoughts here and on the Beyond Folders Community's Facebook and Twitter pages.

by Candie Harris