DISQUS

Rick,

I think that Frank is mainly talking about the Annual Performance Review thing (I may be wrong). I don't see anything wrong with coaching that says something like this - "We've talked about how great a person you are in these areas, blah, blah, but we've also talked how this position requires superior customer relations skills that uses X approach. Your Y approach is interesting, but not what we need here at ABC company. I've enrolled you in this new seminar, "Fantastic Client Relations," and I want you to come back with your plan on how you are going to implement what you learned. Meet with me on March 2nd with your plan."

Not sure if this is what fits your need. Hope it helps. Ron

Frank, You're preaching to this choirboy. The best manager I ever knew, met with each of his direct reports every week and told them the things they did well and the things that they might have done better. The latter part was more of a coaching opportunity that always came across as positive.

Frank, is this guy your clone, or what? Using humor to gore the sacred cows is an artform in itself. I love it.

I was part of the Total Quality Movement awhile back that taught you how to treat customers. Too bad that American Industry treated TQM like another fad and now it's back to business as usual.

Frank... where have you been? The world is now upside down. I assume they are now punishing execs for making profits. Oh, yeah - like congress wants to do to the oil companies.

Congratulations, Frank! You and your team deserve your success!

Frank, it seems to me that this posting of yours generated a lot of enthusiasm. I am really hoping we can do something with SNHR.org! Ron

I sure like the way you think, Frank. You've got me re-thinking some of my own projects!

Frank, as usual, you are right on. I've been harping on this for a long time, but you are able to package it so much better. Now, when do we form the new group:
Society for New HR (SNHR)? - And... I'm not kidding.

How about... "Don't give me a bonus this year, I'm happy to have a job."

You bring up the downsides of Bonus Programs. They only work when times are good and then they don't work as a motivator, just as an expensive "thank-you."
Even when employees know that the company is hurting, they still expect their bonuses.

You better change your attitude about this, Frank! (just kidding).
I used to have a boss that told his staff how to feel all the time - my mother did the same thing when I was a kid. Today, I own my feelings; I just don't share them when I'm feeling down especially in the workplace.
I also choose to be positive because there is always a pony in that manure pile.

Being a victim or being negative never helps. We in HR can only make a difference by being positive.

Frank, you brought tears to my eyes today. Deming knew this truth - he thought performance appraisals were degrading and counter to productivity. Down with trends and the flavor of the month - I bet that the people that created Stonehenge didn't have performance reviews and they accomplished something superhuman. Count me in - I'm standing up today and everyday for Old School!

Gee Frank, but what about us who don't live in Mudville? Just kidding - we all have a lot to be grateful for no matter where we live. Today, it is going to be 80 degrees where I am in California. Life is still good.

Frank, I agree with you (and here comes the but...) - it is hard because you don't know what to say most of the time. You can't go seek people out and tell them that their jobs are okay and if you give any hint as to what the plans are, you might shake up the troops unnecessarily. I was somewhat successful by helping the management team inform everyone about the things that they were doing to minimize the problem and also ask for everyone's inputs and help.

I'm afraid that you are right, Frank - the snowball has just started down the hill. I've helped write a lot of those letters in the past and no matter how well I crafted them, the results were still the same - most employees' anxiety levels skyrocketed and productivity sufferred. Not much good comes from a RIF except immediate relief to the bottom line. Being a class act, HP would institute an accross-the-board salary cut to avoid layoffs.

There is definitely something good to be said about that. Sometimes, we have to be pushed off the wheel in our hamster cage to find out what we really should be doing in life.

However, I do wish that Ellen's comment wasn't "normal." I would prefer this one: "Normal is jumping out of bed in the morning so we can get to the job that we love and we even get paid for it too!"

The best manager I ever knew used to take at least 10 minutes a week with his direct reports and tell them what they did great that week and items that could have been done better. He provided a little coaching, gave them a copy of his simple little form and filed one. His people were always motivated and there was no surprises at all on their annual review.

I feel so out of it... what is an NSFW joke?

I love it. I wish I was qualified and could do this job for you.

Yep, I'm still crazy after all of these years. Your post today reminds me of one of my past adventures. My daughter-in-law recruited me into her real estate company with herself and two other partners. My role was to be the manager and HR specialist. When I would come up with ideas, I would hear, "You don't understand the real estate business." "That won't work in our sector, we're different." "That idea might work in the electronics field, but not here." When I warned them about the real estate bubble bursting and suggested getting prepared for it, they called be a doomsdayer and countered with, "You don't understand the real estate cycles." Unfortunately, the rest is history.

Darn, I hate being the voice in the storm! I can't give advice to anyone, because I'm putting my few bucks in my mattress. Maybe it's my age, but I'm not convinced that we're coming back from this mess soon. If you're twenty or thirty-something, you probably are better riding it out...

In the old days, I always had a mind eye's view of the ideal executive and then I ended up working for him - suave, handsome, well-tailored and well-spoken. He was a great PR guy, but not a great manager/leader. Since then I met CEO's who looked like farmers and spoke like them who were great leaders. So... I found out through experience, that I needed to keep an open mind and not judge that book by the cover.

Frank, Right again. We humans tend to do what we like to do and what we are good at.. We procrastinate on everything else. For me, I avoid golf altogether.