Posts Tagged ‘manager traits’

Central Reservations Don’t Work on the Weekends

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

Yup. You read the title of this blog post correctly.

I’m teaching some MBA students a couple of hours away from where I live on Wednesday evenings beginning on the 31st, and I just telephoned my usual place for an overnight stay. After dialling the number, the recording told me that if I want Central Reservations, I needed to dial a further four digits. Upon doing this, the recording also told me that that number was not in service. I knew then that I was in for an interesting night.

I dialled ’0′ and got the main desk. After being told that they were full on the night I needed them, I mentioned my experience with the recording. The receptionist, a Mr Bag o’ Doughnuts, proudly told me that Central Reservations was closed on the weekends. I chuckled and suggested that a different recording ought to be used when that was the case. I was met with stony silence. For a moment, I didn’t know what to say when he didn’t say anything. (Figure that one out!)

So, I thanked him, and hung up.

What’s wrong with this picture? How hard is it to just redirect all calls to Central Reservations on the weekends to the main desk? Whatever happened to, “Yea. That’s a good idea. I’ll mention it to my supervisor on Monday”?

You’d think I was trying to rock the boat!

Are You Part of the Problem, or Part of the Solution?

Friday, February 19th, 2010

Let me ask you something. In business, who’s the enemy? . . . I’ll give you a hint. It’s not those who work for you, those who work with you, or those you work for. . . .

In this gameshow, your time’s up. Who’s the enemy? If there is one, it’s your competitor. That being the case, why do so many companies treat those who work for them as if they’re on different sides? Why do managers think that their employees are the enemies?

I’ll give you an example. I know of a company (who will remain nameless on this occasion) who believes that it needs to change the way it does business in order to remain competitive. But, it also believes that the one thing that’s holding it back is its employees.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “It’s true. I’ve got the same problem!”

Perhaps; but, I also happen to know that a bright spark at this company went to the powers that be and said something like, “You’re absolutely right. There are people who are holding you back. But, what about those of us who want to help you change the company? How can we help you to do that?”

Guess what the answer was. “I don’t know.”

You see, it’s a lot easier to point the finger away from ourselves than it is to admit we may be part of the problem. If all of the employees are categorized as “the problem,” then managers are free to identify themselves as “the solution.”

When their bluff is called, however, and employees say, “I want to be part of the solution,” then it makes at least some of the managers part of the problem.

Which are you? Are you part of the problem, or part of the solution?

Mixed Drinks

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

It seems that business catastrophes are not limited to the West. Here’s a video clip, from Russia I think, that shows an unusual way to mix drinks. Notwithstanding the fact that the product racks were too weak, too full, or both, I think the driver could have done with some lessons. At least he didn’t need an anaesthetic. ;)