Honesty in Communications

Today I received an interesting e-mail. Another support group had sent a request to mine over a month ago, in the process it was misrouted a few times, and we started to work on it but did not complete it when the user requested it. The e-mail stated that this person had left me two unanswered voice mail messages and then he escallated it up the food chain. The only problem is that the two voice mail messages were left within 30 minutes of each other today while I was in a meeting and thus unable to answer them. By the time I got back the e-mail was in my inbox.

The impression is that the two voice mail messages were left prior to today in an attempt to escallate the priority of the request which was false.

Honesty is important in all communications and the omission of a fact can result in misleading the recipient.

Transitioning to a New Job

Right now I am in a state of transition. The job I've been doing for the past 15 months was changed in a reorg and has been given to someone else and I've been appointed to a interim position until all the other jobs in the new org have been defined and posted. Next week I have to turn over what I've been doing to the new manager.

To faciliate the transition I have created an informal transition document that defines the organization and responsibilities. This document is somewhat stream of consciousness and nothing fancy but it should help my replacement to better understand what she is getting into. I've also created a Excel workbook with a list of over 70 issues that my team faces and the status of each issue which will also help in the transition.

The rule - truth in advertising applies here as well. You have a responsiblity to your replacement as a person to provide them with as much assistance in replacing you as possible. They don't have to accept it or do things the way you did but they do need to know what they are getting into.

Who you are

You have to be real and be who you are both for your own sanity and for the sake of those who you work with. A phony will be spotted a light year away.

For me this means remembering that I am a follower of Jesus Christ, also known as Yshua HaMashiach, who is the living Son of God who came to Earth to be born a child, live a sinless life, minister, then die on a cross for my sins and yours, and after three days to rise again to live forever at the right hand of the Father.

I believe the Bible is the inspired word of the Lord and it is 100% accurate in every word in the original languages. When I study the Bible I use several translations, all of which are considered very accurate to the original (I prefer the English Standard Version or ESV but also use the New American Standard (NASB) and the King James Version).

I believe you have to confess your sins (for we are all sinners) to the Lord and ask forgiveness and confess that Jesus is both the Son of God and God incarnate. The mystery of the triune God is one that I believe in and one that I will fully understand when I stand before Him one day.

Note that while we are all sinners we can all be saved - does that mean we will never sin again - no it does not. But it does mean that if you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior that you will not face eternal damnation in Hell but will spend eternity in Heaven.

Because I hold these beliefs they directly affect how I treat others.

Being Honest with those who work with you and for you

I have a boss who likes to say that he will never lie to those who work for him or with him when asked a question.

He likes to say that:

1. If he knows the answer and can tell you he will
2. If he does not know the answer he will tell you that he does not know
3. If he knows the answer and he can't tell you then he will tell you that he knows the answer but can't tell you

I admire this individual and find this is one the reasons that I admire and respect him and this is one of the things that I want to emulate and you should as well.

There is never any reason to lie to anyone. When you lie someone, somewhere, somehow will find out and you will be embarassed or worse fired. It is also much easier to remember the truth as it is real whereas trying to remember a lie will tax your memory.

And the bottom line is that when you tell a lie you are making a mistake. You are betraying the trust of the person you are telling the lie to and you are impeaching your own integrity.

So be honest and you will respect yourself and others will respect you as well.

Meetings

The bane of most managers (and non-managers) is having to attend meetings. I have just finished reading an excellent book that I want to recommend to everyone who schedules, chairs, or attends meetings. This book is a very easy read and you will put it down with a lot of great ideas on how to take a good meeting and make it better and how to take a rotten meeting and make it one you look forward to attending.

Death by Meeting: A Leadership Fable...About Solving the Most Painful Problem in Business
by Patrick Lencioni
John Wiley & Sons © 2004 (260 pages)
ISBN:0787968056
This book is a blueprint for leaders who want to eliminate waste and frustration among their teams, and create environments of engagement and passion.

Saying what you mean

How many times do you give your boss (or other coworker) a set of options only to receive an answer of 'yes' instead of geting a direct answer? How often are the answers ambigious when you need, no require, a direct answer?

Too often from some and it can be very frustrating.

When all options are acceptable then the response should indicate that.

This is all part of setting expectations from upper management - you have to let your staff know that if you give an ambigious answer that they are free to select the one they believe is the best. If that expectation is not set then everyone looses.