tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7152221.post110120224895183832..comments2024-03-23T07:49:50.940-05:00Comments on The Middle Ground: War is Hell? You Should Work For Me Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7152221.post-1101315365155479982004-11-24T10:56:00.000-06:002004-11-24T10:56:00.000-06:00Not that you asked, however I'm going to chime in ...Not that you asked, however I'm going to chime in anyway! As far as looking like as asshole goes, I've found that if I'm clear and precise about my expectations, repeat them twice in email, and if I word the note professionally and as emotion-neutral as possible, then any perception of assholery is purely on the part of the (guilty-minded?) recipient.<br /><br />This also makes sure that my expetations are so clear as to be undeniable, and if it makes someone unhappy, oh well. I'm not being a jerk, I'm doing my job as professionally as I can, and in the interests of good communication, as clear as I can be to the point pain for the end-reader. <br /><br />It is a pain in the ass, and I do get the occassional "What, do you think I'm stupid?" densive comment. In my case, (I.T.) when someone has promised a 3-month programming project in a 1-month time schedule and turns the whole thing into a "Friday-job", I can only question their decision and relay my exact concerns and expectations. Stupidity has nothing to do with it, but deliverables do.<br /><br />Smacking someone with a clue-bat is necessary, and I think you can say what you WANT to say to this guy in terms that would make even Don Rumsfeld proud!! (Hey, he did turn Monsanto around!!). <br /><br />Not that you asked, of course. :)Jason Rubensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09028465657976012846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7152221.post-1101283390896249862004-11-24T02:03:00.000-06:002004-11-24T02:03:00.000-06:00Dave,
We are in bankruptcy and just getting ready...Dave,<br /><br />We are in bankruptcy and just getting ready to come out of it. We have no incentive plans. Those went out the door 4 years ago when we went bust. The new incentive plan is to stay employed after we become "privately" held. There's this thing in most businesses with a multiplicity of specialties, when they become privately own or get bought, there is a tendency to look around for the fat and "bye-bye" or to at least streamline the operations to reduce expenditures. That's why I am a little frustrated with some folks.<br /><br />That, and I'm a little touchy about it as I have the usual debt of a middle class person and don't feel like going into bankruptcy myself because we didn't perform.<br /><br />That's just my issue you know.<br /><br />Mike..I think part of the problem is how the guy sees our roles and how I see them. He has just started understanding this year (I've been doing it for two years) that he does have to do things I ask and that they aren't just friendly suggestions from a same level manager. When I was on his level, we butted heads quite a bit (I was new and hadn't learned how to get certain things through the power of persuasion yet). <br /><br />Generally, an ok guy, but he is also a bit "protectionist" about his facility(which is good) but has difficulty moving away from that to insure he maintains the "management" aspect of the job. <br /><br />We'll see how he goes on. I think he's one of those types that is just happy to go on as he is as long as no one bugs him.Kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05208095650375780838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7152221.post-1101267410140980192004-11-23T21:36:00.000-06:002004-11-23T21:36:00.000-06:00Do these people have any kind of significant bonus...Do these people have any kind of significant bonus or other incentive that is linked to their P&L? From the description of the guy's behavior, it doesn't sound like it. Maybe what needs to happen is a rethinking of the incentive system.<br /><br />photoncourier.blogspot.comDavid Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15464681514800720063noreply@blogger.com