Many cultures show huge outward respect and give face to authority, making it very challenging to gather data about what the boss is doing wrong in their opinion.
Here are some techniques for gathering information in such circumstances.
1) Give two conflicting opinions and ask if you are right/wrong. Do this several times.
“Mr Timor has a good understanding of the product.(wait)”
“Mr Timor could understand the product better. (wait)
2) Diagnose the past via the future. The future has not happened yet, so face is not an issue.
“Next quarter, Mr Timor is going to be away for 2 months; it will be hard to sell to X because he has such important relationship with the customer”. (wait)
“Next quarter, Mr Timor is going to be away for 2 months; this may help us sell to X because someone who the customer prefers (Mr K) will handle the account ”. (wait)
3) Use people who have left the company.
- 1) Give me names of people who left the company.
- 2) Which of them is like you?
- 3) What did he think of Mr Timor?
4) Use a positive future event to gather data.
“Mr Timor’s boss may want to promote him”.
- He should get an even bigger Sales role. Right?
- He should move him into back office so he can give his knowledge to Finance, right?
Fabulous stuff, Allon! Nobody is doing what you are doing. . .
A public thanks to my good friend John who has encouraged me to write for years.
allon
You should relabel this from OD to General Management – good advice and techniques for EVERY manager! Cheers!
short and very well written and said. Good!
Allon, you are teaching us how to listen from the listening of others. Such rich insights.
Lévis
Hello again, Allon:
I tried once again to sign up for your newsletter and received this message” The feed does not have subscriptions by email enabled.”
Has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks and regards,
David
Hi David
I get these complaints but not from everyone. I have over 2000 subscribers.
Let me see what i can do….but no need for optimism.
I am not too good at IT.
allon