-
Get Out Of Your Own Way …
June 14, 2022
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
Sometimes decision makers get so busy solving everyone else's issues, they overlook handling things for themselves. During one of my weekly calls to PDs, I was told about a situation that could have easily been avoided.
PD: Man, what a terrible way to start a Monday after taking a vacation.
Coach: What?
PD: I was written up for having poor managerial skills.
Coach: But your ratings have been good for a while now. Where's this coming from?
PD: It is being stirred up by the Community Relations Director and one of the air personalities.
Coach: I don't get it.
PD: Well, she has been here for 12 years, and the air talent likes to complain all the time. Nothing is ever right for him.
Coach: Is this the first time you have been written up?
PD: Yes. Five years here and this is the first time. I was told that I don't contribute enough to sales meetings.
Coach: What is the Community Relations Director doing in those meetings?
PD: She used to be the Promotions Director and sales still likes her in on things because they feel she is necessary.
Coach: Okay, and what's the connection between her and this air talent?
PD: I'm not sure other than he's worked here for as long as she has. Every time I make some programming adjustments, he gets upset and starts complaining to her and she goes straight to the GM.
Coach: I must be missing something.
PD: Oh, I forgot to tell you, two weeks ago, I got an email from the GM on what a great job I was doing with programming. And now he gives me this. It's crazy around here sometimes.
Coach: This whole thing is weird. Are you sure didn't forget to tell me something else?
PD: Well, they did give me a new contract four weeks ago, but I haven't signed it yet.
Coach: With all the layoffs out here, what are you waiting on? Sign it before they change their minds if they haven't already.
PD: I figured there was no rush. I'm just back from vacation and I was going to get around to it. You think I should sign it and hand it in tomorrow?
Coach: Yes, I don't understand why you didn't sign before going on vacation. Honestly, this managerial thing might be the GM just irritated with you.
PD: You think so?
Coach: As smart as you are, I can't believe you don't see this. By taking this long to sign, your GM might think you're looking at leaving for somewhere else. You should've already handled the contract thing and not left the GM in limbo. Did you forget he has a boss too? This thing with the community relations person and the air talent is an excuse to find out what's going on with you.
PD: I guess this write-up has me not thinking straight. The GM has set up a meeting with me to discuss the complaint.
Coach: I'll say it again, I think the GM is upset with you for having not signed your contract after four weeks. I really don't think you're going to lose your job, but please sign the contract and have it ready if he asks you about it during your meeting.
PD: Will do and I'll call you after the meeting to let you know if I still have a job.
The Next Morning...
PD: Good news, he just gave me a performance criteria guideline for any issues such as this one that might come up. And you were right, he was more interested in finding out if there was a problem with the new contract offer.
Coach: Good, now sign it and apologize for taking so long. Meanwhile, try and make peace with this community relations person and as far as the air personality is concerned, get his butt in line, and start looking for a replacement. By the way, if you haven't done so already, start a paper trail in his personal file on everything good or bad that he does. By the way, was there a problem with the new contract?
PD: No. In fact, it has a nice raise in it and the dollars attached to ratings goals increased too.
Coach: Count your blessings, you're one of the lucky ones these days.
Take Care Of Easy Stuff ...
This programmer is good, but as you can see, even he still has a few things to learn. It's the thousand little things that can add up to hurting your image and effectiveness. Don't derail yourself. Use every experience as a learning exercise, good or bad. -
-