Over the past few weeks watching "The Voice", I've noticed how every act, in the mentors opinion, is just amazing and fantastic and beautiful. Now the thing is, I'm listening to this, the viewers are listening to this but the most important person to be hearing this is the act on stage. Now that's all well and good if they act had got a "turn", but what about those that didn't?? "That was just sooo amazing, that was a fantastic job.... But I didn't turn". Does this show how in modern society how loosely we lavish praise on each other... Is that because we all crave the audience?? Or.... Is it because as a society, we find it more and more difficult to be told a negative truth, to put it bluntly, we are all far too easily offended these days, therefore false hopes are built, people maintain average because they are told its amazing.... And pursue a line that they will never succeed in. Can we not help each other by being honest and constructive with each other? At worst, it should motivate those on the receiving end to prove doubters wrong.
Transfer this to the workplace. People can be far to easily offended in the modern day work place and so as managers, we find ourselves skirting around the issue, sometimes avoiding the difficult discussions because we know it will affect motivation negatively. To have a team that can be open and honest with each other where honest opinions can be conveyed (appropriately) and common goals are driven for is priceless.
A team that has evolved into that of over sensitivity, feeding the want for recognition, management afraid to upset people over what should be a straight forward discussion is damaging. It rewards average, it in effect desensitises the team to what is truly great and to what is pretty average.
Everyone has the right to work I an environment free from prejudice, it isn't just law, it's plain common decency. But please, when it comes to managing teams, when it comes to giving feedback to unsuccessful applicants, be honest. The best that can happen is that the person in front of you keeps the door open, they will take the feedback on board, remember you, appreciate the fact you are trying to help them. The person who openly disagrees, argues or just takes plain umbrage probably shouldn't be working for you anyway.
Let's use words like fantastic and amazing when the situation deserves it and we actually want to offer the person something in return. Not in the context because it's what everyone wants to hear right now. Your teams performance will thrive, it will mean a hell of a lot more if you reserve your praise for the only times that deserve it.
The best employees I have worked with, the best candidates I have placed have all been of the ilk that will listen, take it on the chin, and do something positive about it.
That's me done, step off the soap box Adam and get some proper work done!
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