The powers that be hired a new boss for the department where Dominic worked. The new department head seemed nice enough when everyone met her. She definitely knew how to say all the right things. During her first week, she set up a rigorous meeting schedule for the department. Staff was required to attend three meetings each week wherein they spent two hours per meeting developing a vision statement and a mission statement; identifying target service areas and their target audience; plus, creating lists of values, goals, and objectives for the department.
She also required everyone to create a list of their current projects. Then she assigned due dates to “increase productivity.” Upper management wanted to cut down on overtime, so she informed the staff they would no longer be allowed to stay late. Dominic did his best to complete his projects on time. Being a well organized and conscientious person, he went to speak to the new boss well before one was due because he could see he was not going to finish it by the deadline. He asked to be allowed to attend fewer meetings until the project was complete. Nope. He asked if he could stay late like he used to do. No, must leave when work ends. Don’t take work home with you. No paid overtime. He asked for a two week extension knowing that’s how long he really needed to finish without modifying the rest of his schedule. Instead, she gave him a two day extension from Wednesday to Friday. Frustrated, he took it and did his best to finish, but could not. When he didn’t make the deadline she formally reprimanded him and put a note in his file. Dominic started looking for a new job that night. He found one within a month and quit. Within six months everyone who had worked in the department before the new manager’s arrival had transferred, retired, or quit.
Dominic was a hard working employee before his new boss arrived on the scene. She did not take time to get to know her new staff, to find out how things were going, or to observe how the department functioned. She did not have much actual management experience, but she wanted to appear strong and capable; so she started off doing all of the things she thought a manager should do. In reality a leader should be working as hard or harder than anyone else in the group. They should give credit to their team when it is due, take the blame for failures, and listen to their people when they speak. A leader does not necessarily have to act on everything their staff says; however, even the most dedicated people in a team will lose heart if their leader never listens. The leader may be the team captain, but should still be part of the team.
Leadership is done by example and we should all behave like quality leaders. Do what you say you are going to do. Complete what you start. Hold yourself to a higher standard – one worthy of being followed.
Whatever you have been putting off, get it done. It does not matter if it is a project, something that needs fixing, sending “thank you” cards, calling an old friend, or taking out the trash. Stop hiding under a pile of excuses and get it done.