Leadership Lens

Posted by wdywft under Management
From http://www.whatdoyouwantfromthem.com 4840 days ago

I'm the manager at a small restaurant and we are expecting a huge dinner rush. It is 4 pm and the cook calls in sick. How do I respond?

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Comments

Written by businessavante
4840 days ago

Very good article, Anna. I agree with your points that the boss shouldn't have a preconceived notion about call-offs, and with the 3 comments so far, so I'll take a different tack.

From my perspective as an employee (including over the years both family owned/fresh-house, and franchise/commissary truck types of restaurants) w/near perfect attendance, it's really frustrating when a co-worker is passive-aggressive & repeatedly calls off. The rest of the crew has to do their work (closing, for example - meaning cleaning the place up), while they're partying.

In one instance, I was called-in for a few hours on a busy Friday night (due to High School football games) to help out during the rush. The youngster who was supposed to close stumbles in & says he's "too hung-over to work". He goes home & I close on my day off. Did that affect his employment in any way - NO. There was no retribution what-so-ever. It was sluffed off as "tuff luck Bozo..." (I'm Bozo).

businessavante

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Written by wdywft
4840 days ago

I'm all too familiar with what you're describing. When I managed a Waffle House, I started keeping a performance log. It was amazing to see how often (even my best) employees violated standards (and that's when it clicks - something needs to change).

You remembered that this guy, 'Boozo', repeatedly missed work. As an employee, that is easy to notice, as a manager, it's easy to lose track of (unless one keeps a log of some sort).

But mostly: Thanks for adding a new perspective!

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Written by Adam_Gottlieb
4840 days ago

Hi Anna,

Great visual!

I would add that not only does your lens change how you perceive the situation and the people involved, but it actually creates a reality. If you constantly see your employees as impossible, lazy, dishonest, etc then they will become just that.

If, on the other hand, you *actively* look for and try to draw out their qualities and give them the benefit of the doubt, then in most cases they will rise to the occasion.

*This* is true leadership.

Adam

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Written by wdywft
4840 days ago

"Leadership is based on an attitude on life that starts by seeing yourself and your own abilities in a positive way" - very cool/helpful, thanks!

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Written by Adam_Gottlieb
4840 days ago

"I guess it takes years of practice and habit forming and ??? to become the kind of leader who instinctively draws out the positive in others..."

No, not necessarily... You could certainly learn techniques and practice them to hone your skills. But the truth is that this kind of leadership is based on an attitude on life that starts by seeing yourself and your own abilities in a positive way. Once that's in place everything else follows...

Adam

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Written by wdywft
4840 days ago

Hi Adam,

When I read your comment (thanks!), I am reminded how difficult it is to actively do those things. I guess it takes years of practice and habit forming and ??? to become the kind of leader who instinctively draws out the positive in others...

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Written by aedinsy
4840 days ago

Love this article. It all begins and ends with how we perceive things. Good leaders not only lead by example but also in how they choose to look at things.

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Written by wdywft
4840 days ago

Thanks for the great comment - I like the way you worded it, 'It all begins and ends with how we perceive things.'

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