Though they may facilitate a perfect scenario or ensure the ease, efficiency or enjoyment of a situation, your input, vision, suggestions, decisions, or recommendations may be rejected, and viewed as grossly out of order, if you are neither the responsible nor the authorized party. You could say something, perhaps to be proactive, or even helpful, but should you? When you're not sure, it's never a good idea to visit your lack of clarity on others. It's annoying enough for you to walk around wondering what may or might happen based on information that's sketchy. Why visit that on someone else? No one likes being on hold. Why pass the telephone to someone else? The muzak won't sound any more appealing to them. Why be the catalyst that causes someone else to wander in a fog, waste time, wait unnecessarily, or miss sure opportunities?
As much as you may want to make decisions, sometimes you simply can't. I mean...okay...you can, but what would be the consequences or expense incurred of overruling, imposing, or being assertive? Would going out on a limb--even if it's a good strong limb-- backfire, and leave you not only out of the tree in the future, but out of the grove altogether?
Ever feel as if you're being accused of being exclusionary, when the inclusion of something or someone wasn't even your call to make? Sometimes people assume that you have clout you simply do not possess, and expect you to stick your neck out.
There is a clarion call these days for everyone to stay in their lanes, but sometimes, people are as disappointed in you for doing so, as they would be if you didn't--especially if your failure to arrogantly veer into another lane would have benefited them. People lie about what their roles are and who's responsible for a mess that didn't have to occur. Sure. They do it to get the heat off of their own backs and that, though not excusable, is understandable. If someone is going to be crawling out from the underside of a bus, people would rather it be you than them.
Every now and then you're so happy you kept every email, text message, and voice mail message. Those time and date stamps keep you and others honest about the who, what, when, where, why, how of a matter.
Clear the air. The sooner, the better. Confrontation isn't always fun, but it is often necessary in those annoying "he said", "she said" situations. Confrontation can't be done in secret. Every player involved should be at the table, making the way for everyone to speak for him or herself. Too often people speak for others and are neither capable, coherent, authorized, or honest. Misunderstanding thrives when key players are missing, there's remote meddling from someone out of the loop, or when people just choose to believe the worst scenario.
Venting to the wrong person may solidify your backward or inaccurate assessment of a matter. Depending upon the players involved, you can find yourself embroiled in unmerited fury. Why choose to be upset, suspicious, or skeptical when you can be clear? If you're going to be upset, at least let it be for the truth of a matter and not your perception of it. If it's a matter where the person with whom you should be most annoyed is you, because of what you said, did, or neglected to do, work that out, but be careful not to assign blame where it doesn't deserve to be. "Misunderstanding" is only the appropriate word when at least some communication has taken place. You can't misunderstand what you've never heard.
When you don't speak up because you know or believe you are not authorized to do so, never be surprised when others fill in those silent spaces for you.
I was always encouraged by my veteran father to observe chain of command wherever it existed. Is there ever a time to skip a link in the chain, be aggressive or pushy and shed your penchant for passivity? Yes-- In the interest of the truth.
As much as you may want to make decisions, sometimes you simply can't. I mean...okay...you can, but what would be the consequences or expense incurred of overruling, imposing, or being assertive? Would going out on a limb--even if it's a good strong limb-- backfire, and leave you not only out of the tree in the future, but out of the grove altogether?
Ever feel as if you're being accused of being exclusionary, when the inclusion of something or someone wasn't even your call to make? Sometimes people assume that you have clout you simply do not possess, and expect you to stick your neck out.
There is a clarion call these days for everyone to stay in their lanes, but sometimes, people are as disappointed in you for doing so, as they would be if you didn't--especially if your failure to arrogantly veer into another lane would have benefited them. People lie about what their roles are and who's responsible for a mess that didn't have to occur. Sure. They do it to get the heat off of their own backs and that, though not excusable, is understandable. If someone is going to be crawling out from the underside of a bus, people would rather it be you than them.
Every now and then you're so happy you kept every email, text message, and voice mail message. Those time and date stamps keep you and others honest about the who, what, when, where, why, how of a matter.
Clear the air. The sooner, the better. Confrontation isn't always fun, but it is often necessary in those annoying "he said", "she said" situations. Confrontation can't be done in secret. Every player involved should be at the table, making the way for everyone to speak for him or herself. Too often people speak for others and are neither capable, coherent, authorized, or honest. Misunderstanding thrives when key players are missing, there's remote meddling from someone out of the loop, or when people just choose to believe the worst scenario.
Venting to the wrong person may solidify your backward or inaccurate assessment of a matter. Depending upon the players involved, you can find yourself embroiled in unmerited fury. Why choose to be upset, suspicious, or skeptical when you can be clear? If you're going to be upset, at least let it be for the truth of a matter and not your perception of it. If it's a matter where the person with whom you should be most annoyed is you, because of what you said, did, or neglected to do, work that out, but be careful not to assign blame where it doesn't deserve to be. "Misunderstanding" is only the appropriate word when at least some communication has taken place. You can't misunderstand what you've never heard.
When you don't speak up because you know or believe you are not authorized to do so, never be surprised when others fill in those silent spaces for you.
I was always encouraged by my veteran father to observe chain of command wherever it existed. Is there ever a time to skip a link in the chain, be aggressive or pushy and shed your penchant for passivity? Yes-- In the interest of the truth.
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