5 Things Your Employees Say That Aren't What They Mean
Your day moves incredibly fast. You've got a dozen different forces pulling at you. So it's incredibly tempting to overlook the casual comments people make—to brush off something that sounds reasonable with a 'sure, no problem'. But oh, the magic moment is right there, the opportunity to listen to what's really going on below the surface. It's the key to changing your style from problem solver to cultural leader. Your team will really appreciate it. And if you've got a boss, they'll be thrilled.
Here's five of the most common things you're used to hearing—and taking at face value—that are opportunities to get to the stuff that really matters to your team:
When they say 'I'd like a raise' you should be hearing: 'I'm not feeling valued—personally—for the work I do here. I'm not looking for all the credit, but I want to be acknowledged in a meaningful way for my individual contributions. Asking for a raise is my last resort.'
When they say 'Can I work from home today?' you should be hearing: 'This week has been hell and I just need a break. It's so frustrating that we keep bumping our heads against the same wall on this project.'
When they say 'When do you need that by?' you should be hearing: 'We have way too many projects going on right now. Can you please clarify where this fits on the priorities list.'
When they say 'Sorry I'm late' you should be hearing: 'I just don't feel inspired working here. I'm not sure what it is—I wanted this job when I first got here—but I go home at night feeling uncreative.'
When they say, 'I'm not sure why that happened' you should be hearing: 'Come on, you know exactly why that happened … it's because someone else messed up again. When are you guys going to address it for the sake of the rest of us?'
Sometimes as they say—a cigar is just a cigar—but mostly it's the other thing.