How do you deal with obvious work-related grievances or mismanagement? I am in no way saying that I am the one who has all the solutions and knows everything better, however, for my part, I find it very hard to sit still and bite the bullet. No question, this behavior brings on trouble at times, especially with people who are higher up in the hierarchy and cannot deal with the fact that subordinates come along with suggestions about how to streamline the operation and process in their domain. In my experience, good bosses will be happy and accept every input at least as food for thought and brainstorming. Unfortunately — and that’s especially true in the world of web agencies and start ups — there is a greater number of “CEO”s, which is hopped up on megalomania and has more $’s in their eyes than uncle scrooch.
In my experience, the main lack of focus is on employee satisfaction. There is the material issue on the one hand: not only monetary compensation, but also the question: “How do I shape the work environment, so my staff can work as efficient AND satisfied as possible?” Motivation is valued much too little much too often. This also ties in with the other side: How do I manage to motivate my people, so we work on the task at hand as a team and not as single entities or even rivals?
I am not saying that I have all the answers. And these problems need to be evaluated on a case by case basis. One thing I can say though: I have seen my fair share of how it’s not to be done in the last months; once I am in a position higher in the hierarchy I really hope (and believe) that I will not be the one duplicating those errors — it takes learning, but most of all openness and a conscious and critical view at oneself and the position in the organization. In a few years I hope that I will read these lines and tell myself: “See, you did it better.” Otherwise I hope I’ll already be standing in front of a mirror asking myself what I can do to make people — who rely on my performance just as much as I rely on theirs — happier.