What is it you say all the time?

“Is it finished?”

“It’s okay.”

“That’s not right!”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Can we make it cheaper?”

“Where is the data?”

“We don’t have time to get more data.”

Whatever you say all the time becomes the mantra in your company when you aren’t around to make the decision.

Your team may ask, “How would the boss (insert your name) handle this issue? And, your team will use your common pronouncement in the analysis. If you say “Is it finished?” They will say, the boss wants it done in the fastest possible time. Finishing is more important than right. You might pull out your hair when you find out saying ” No, no, the most important thing is to do it right. How could you not understand?”

It is because we assume that the team knows the priorities without having to talk about it, that we end up so frustrated.

Are you regularly talking about:

the long term goals and strategies,corporate values and behaviors, and this year’s plan?

Does each team member know how they contribute to the company’s success?

And most importantly, do you check to see if what you mean to communicate is the message your team hears?

Pick one topic to discuss this week in all your team meetings and conversations. Share stories that demonstrate your point and ask them to share theirs. If they have the same point as yours, you know they heard what you meant to say.

Illustration courtesy of linkedIn