I’ll never forget a former boss of mine walking into the office in a frazzled state, rattling off a bunch of conversations to herself aloud, suddenly looking at me, and exclaiming, “I feel squozen!” … Yes, she made up a word and I knew exactly what she meant and how she felt… and I’m sure you do too! She was a recent new hire to the organization with a wealth of experience and skills, but ill-informed of the inner-workings and day-to-day pace of chaos the job entailed… it didn’t help that Senior Management and her boss were in offices miles away and out of touch with how the job had evolved. Leaders may also feel squeezed as they must meet the demands and numbers set by Senior Management all the while caring for, protecting, motivating, and influencing their team working on the front-line. So, how does Middle Management lead when feeling “Squozen”?
Understand Your “Squozen”
The first thing to do is to get a better understanding of your stress. Are you stressed because the situation is new and par for the course of leadership? Many times, when you feel “Squozen” as a leader… your people tend to feel the same way… and may react in not so professional of ways: negative talk, outbursts, absenteeism, gossip, etc. Are you feeling “Squozen”, and your people aren’t… due to your poor delegation, lack of trust in your staff, they have simply checked-out, or have never really checked-in? I could go on, but you get the point. There can be a plethora of reasons for your “Squozen”; find out what it is and develop a plan for what to do about it!
Request 1-on-1’s
Now that you better understand your “Squozen”, it’s time to request 1-on-1 Meetings. I often share the importance of leaders having 1-on-1 Meetings with their people and how to do it. In this case, I’m suggesting you, as the leader, request monthly 1-on-1’s with your boss. I know… you’re busy and so are they… so what! The meeting doesn’t have to be long, and the point is to share the positives, maintain high standards, address concerns, and to limit surprises. You will also learn a lot about your boss (and possibly the organization) in how they respond to the request. Remember… some bosses will, and some bosses won’t. Be mindful to request your 1-on-1 via email; as leaders protect themselves with proof of asking for guidance, assistance, and leadership!
“Great leaders are transparent with information and are sure to put on a smile when delivering news; focusing on the positives of how it will benefit employees, customers, and the organization as a whole” – Andre Young
Enhance Leadership and Work/Life Harmony in your Organization, your Leaders, Employees, and Teams with Andre Young’s Speaking Engagements, Evolve & Lead Training Programs (on-site, online, or virtual), and1-on-1 Growth Sessions! www.youevolvingnow.com
Written by: Andre Young
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