Do you remember the children’s story about the Emperor who asked a tailor to make him a new suit of clothes? The tailor pretended to make the clothes, and even convinced the Emperor that he looked beautiful in his new outfit, even though he was actually naked. And to make it worse, no one wanted to give the bad news to the Emperor out of fear of his reaction, so they all just said how beautiful he looked, even though he was naked! Then, during a public procession, a little boy said out loud “Mommy, why isn’t the Emperor wearing any clothes?” The Emperor, upon hearing the news that he was indeed naked, was humiliated and ran home.
Ok, so what does that children’s story have anything to do with you?
Don’t like what I have to say?
Whether you are a manager or an employee, you need to create a work place whereby you can give and receive bad news without retribution. We need to be honest about situations. We need to manage up, down and sideways. If our boss needs to receive news that is less than good, you need to deliver it, but factually. Do not give excuses or deflection to someone else. Just say it. If your co-worker is not carrying his load of the effort, you need to politely, but factually tell him that. And if your staff member is not doing what he signed up for, then you need to again tell them that, but factually. Do not, no matter who are talking to, add opinion. Facts, facts, facts. Once you add an opinion, you run the risk of being proven wrong, and becoming a significant part of the problem.
The higher up in the org chart I went, the better looking I got, the funnier I got, and I even started smelling better. Well, that is how some people made me feel. But, finding a truthful, candid co-worker who would tell me straight up what they thought, was like finding money in my jeans – priceless.
So, the next time your boss is naked, look him in the eye and tell him – he will appreciate it.
Mike
Visit http://www.directyourcareer.com often for FREE offers!
Click here to Subscribe to Direct your career! by Email
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mike Anderson, Mike Anderson. Mike Anderson said: RT @mike_anderson1 The Emporer’s New Clothes http://bit.ly/d3rjUc [...]