Not a bad sentiment, but please remember to use it sparingly and not to go too far in the other direction. I may work with a few annoyingly spineless wimps, but also with too many people who make a big deal out how they are proud of being a bastard/bitch and will never let anyone mistreat them ever again. That sort of person doesn’t really invite respect either (or it’s a cheap kind of respect anyway) - professionalism and competence is by far the most important thing.
[QUOTE=LC Strawhouse]
Not a bad sentiment, but please remember to use it sparingly and not to go too far in the other direction.
[/QUOTE]
Absolutely. Hey, let’s go a step further. Maybe it all depends on context? The level of forcefulness it is appropriate to use, and how it is perceived, depends on that unique dynamic that exists at your particular place of employment. It may even in fact depend on what is going on at that exact moment in time. You might even use a different approach with different people, depending on their personalities and communication style.
I feel like the best managers grasp the nuance.
In some cultures, saving ‘face’, and being allowed to save ‘face’, is more important than anything else. Being forced to admit in public that you don’t know the answer is seen as causing unforgivable loss of face, and creates an implacable eternal enemy.
So, just curious, how do you deal with that?
You make sure to ask a question they know the answer to. Of course they don’t end up competent to do the thing you were hired to teach them to do. But all they want is a course certificate so that they can get their ticket punched.