I Can't Get My Reports to Behave the Way I Want!

If I have heard executives complain about their reports once, I have heard it thousands of times. For me, these complaints are another example of executives externalizing the source of the difficulty – and, by-the-way, making themselves powerless in the process.

In these situations I ask, "Have you given your reports some guidelines about how to work with you so they are successful around you?" You may be surprised to know the answer is usually no.

We expect a users manual when we buy a car or any other potentially complicated purchase. So why not something similar for our reports, for a potentially much more complicated relationship that with an inanimate machine.

So here's what I recommend, lay out some simple guidelines. For example:

1. Be focused on specific measurable desired outcomes – not activities or process
2. Relate to each months budget or reforecast, whichever is the higher, as a promise – as in. “I promise to deliver X result in Y time and less than my promise will not do”
3. Reasons, explanations and excuses are not acceptable as a substitute for less than required results (budget or reforecast budget whichever is greater)
4. Which does not mean don’t present the facts. Know what happened in your area of accountability, as facts, not as justifications of anything
5. Flag risks as soon as they become apparent. Surprises may be career limiting
6. Know your business – have your KPI’s at your fingertips
7. And, don’t substitute knowing with invention.

There is clearly more ... but you get the idea. So the first step is to be clear what agreements do you want your reports to make with you, and what agreements will you make with them?

All upsets are a function of unmet expectations. We relate to our expectations as if we have had an implicit promise made to us. And, nothing is further from the truth. So make expectations explicit, and be clear whether or not you have someone on the other end promising to give you what you want. Failing to complete this basic step is at the source of frustration, disappointment, the negative assessments we make about others – and a whole host of unproductive and unhealthy behavior.