So, there was this one time I was watching "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." I saw something that looked strangely familiar.
Toward the beginning of the movie, Dudley storms down the stairs and into the kitchen, anxious to see his many new birthday presents. His first question? "How many are there?" His father proudly announces, "36, counted them myself."
"36? It's malarkey! Last year I had 37!" he shouts.
His father quickly retorts, "But some of them are quite a bit bigger than last year."
Dudley continues his tantrum. "I don't care how big they are!"
His mother comes to the rescue. "Don't worry," she says. "Here's what we're going to do. When we go out we're going to buy you two new presents. How's that pumpkin?"
Kudos - in this instance - to his father for trying to manage the situation and his son's expectations. Shame on his mother for completely collapsing and having no backbone to tell him 'no.'
So it is with performance ratings at work. The effective evaluator provides fair and honest feedback, regardless of how the person will receive the news. To do anything less, is irresponsible as it will most certainly perpetuate the problem until it becomes unmanageable, like Dudley, or 'Dudders' as his mummy calls him.
I know, I know, I'm rambling again.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
'Mary Poppins' on communication
So, there was this one time when I was watching the Disney favorite, "Mary Poppins." As I listened to one of my favorite songs, I saw something that looked surprisingly familiar.
Early in the movie, the children run away and the nanny quits in frustration. Mr. Banks decides that he will personally oversee the hiring of a new nanny and requests his wife to take notes for the paper's advertisement.
Mr. Banks sings the following job description (perhaps if this happened at work ... maybe I'm glad it doesn't...)
"I feel a surge of deep satisfaction
Much as a king astride his noble steed
When I return from daily strife to hearth and wife
How pleasant is the life I lead!
"I run my home precisely on schedule
At 6:01, I march through my door
My slippers, sherry, and pipe are due at 6:02
Consistent is the life I lead!
"It's grand to be an Englishman in 1910
King Edward's on the throne;
It's the age of men
I'm the lord of my castle
The sov'reign, the liege!
I treat my subjects: servants, children, wife
With a firm but gentle hand.
Noblesse oblige!
"It's 6:03 and the heirs to my dominion
Are scrubbed and tubbed and adequately fed
And so I'll pat them on the head
And send them off to bed
Ah! Lordly is the life I lead!
"A British nanny must be a gen'ral!
The future empire lies within her hands
And so the person that we need to mold the breed
Is a nanny who can give commands!
"A British bank is run with precision
A British home requires nothing less!
Tradition, discipline, and rules must be the tools
Without them - disorder!
Catastrophe! Anarchy! -
In short, we have a ghastly mess!"
A few moments later the Banks children, Jane and Michael, provide a different description of their ideal nanny.
"Wanted: a nanny for two adorable children
If you want this choice position
Have a cheery disposition
Rosy cheeks, no warts!
Play games, all sort
"You must be kind, you must be witty
Very sweet and fairly pretty
Take us on outings, give us treats
Sing songs, bring sweets
"Never be cross or cruel
Never give us castor oil or gruel
Love us as a son and daughter
And never smell of barley water
"If you won't scold and dominate us
We will never give you cause to hate us
We won't hide your spectacles so you can't see
Put toads in your bed
Or pepper in your tea
"Hurry, Nanny!
Many thanks,
Sincerely,
Jane and Michael Banks."
Dad wants a strict 'general' to mold the breed.
The children want a kind and witty nanny.
Management communicates its vision.
Employees counter with one of their own.
Husbands say, "This is the way it will be."
Wives wonder, "But what about me?"
Leaders proclaim their grand intentions.
Followers insist there is something more important to pursue.
At the risk of stating the obvious, I'm thinking that it would be a whole lot simpler if people just talked to each other, then perhaps everybody would be on the same page, especially if they live in the same home or work in the same company.
I know, I know. I'm ramblin' again.
Early in the movie, the children run away and the nanny quits in frustration. Mr. Banks decides that he will personally oversee the hiring of a new nanny and requests his wife to take notes for the paper's advertisement.
Mr. Banks sings the following job description (perhaps if this happened at work ... maybe I'm glad it doesn't...)
"I feel a surge of deep satisfaction
Much as a king astride his noble steed
When I return from daily strife to hearth and wife
How pleasant is the life I lead!
"I run my home precisely on schedule
At 6:01, I march through my door
My slippers, sherry, and pipe are due at 6:02
Consistent is the life I lead!
"It's grand to be an Englishman in 1910
King Edward's on the throne;
It's the age of men
I'm the lord of my castle
The sov'reign, the liege!
I treat my subjects: servants, children, wife
With a firm but gentle hand.
Noblesse oblige!
"It's 6:03 and the heirs to my dominion
Are scrubbed and tubbed and adequately fed
And so I'll pat them on the head
And send them off to bed
Ah! Lordly is the life I lead!
"A British nanny must be a gen'ral!
The future empire lies within her hands
And so the person that we need to mold the breed
Is a nanny who can give commands!
"A British bank is run with precision
A British home requires nothing less!
Tradition, discipline, and rules must be the tools
Without them - disorder!
Catastrophe! Anarchy! -
In short, we have a ghastly mess!"
A few moments later the Banks children, Jane and Michael, provide a different description of their ideal nanny.
"Wanted: a nanny for two adorable children
If you want this choice position
Have a cheery disposition
Rosy cheeks, no warts!
Play games, all sort
"You must be kind, you must be witty
Very sweet and fairly pretty
Take us on outings, give us treats
Sing songs, bring sweets
"Never be cross or cruel
Never give us castor oil or gruel
Love us as a son and daughter
And never smell of barley water
"If you won't scold and dominate us
We will never give you cause to hate us
We won't hide your spectacles so you can't see
Put toads in your bed
Or pepper in your tea
"Hurry, Nanny!
Many thanks,
Sincerely,
Jane and Michael Banks."
Dad wants a strict 'general' to mold the breed.
The children want a kind and witty nanny.
Management communicates its vision.
Employees counter with one of their own.
Husbands say, "This is the way it will be."
Wives wonder, "But what about me?"
Leaders proclaim their grand intentions.
Followers insist there is something more important to pursue.
At the risk of stating the obvious, I'm thinking that it would be a whole lot simpler if people just talked to each other, then perhaps everybody would be on the same page, especially if they live in the same home or work in the same company.
I know, I know. I'm ramblin' again.
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