Rules Of Management

RULE 30 - Ensure people know exactly what is expected of them

“It certainly sounds simple enough – just tell people what you want them to do so they can get on with the work. Unfortunately, all too often people are told to get on with it without knowing what is expected of them. They come out of large group announcements wondering what any of this has to do with them.”

Chris Edgelow, Sundance Consulting

It’s easy to give someone a job description and a contract and then sit back and expect them to get on with it. Trouble is, it leads to a lot of confused people and waste time. Better to let them know right from the off what is expected of them.

“Let them know right from the off what is expected of them.”

And what is expected of them? Well, it’s a whole lot more than just the job itself. You have to think through every individual role and what exactly is expected of that person.

It’s vital that people know what part they play in any strategic plan and what is expected of them as a result. It’s essential that team members know the values and standards of the team and the company, and what’s expected of them in attitude and behavior (open? Honest? Imaginative? Caring? Can do?). It’s also about them being clear on emotional requirements, punctuality, working overtime, behavior towards colleagues, crisis management – everything.

For new employees this is helped if you have a ‘buddy’ programme where each new person is linked to someone more experienced who can show them the ropes.

Oh, and some guidelines on relationships at work. It’s only fair that everyone knows what is expected of them in any given situation – you can’t go rollicking someone for having sex in the broom cupboard if it hasn’t been spelt out to them that they don’t do that sort of thing – ‘But we always did it at my previous place of work and no one complained’.

posted by Right Ranger @ 6:44 PM