Leadership

Day 89 - 911 days to go

I am a bit hurt today as I became a sandwich between my subordinate and my superior over an issue. Due to lack of communication, my subordinate complain about the lack of involvement of me and another peer over a decision. I think it is a bit unfair to me as I was not given the chance to help or to be involved in the first place as he did not come to seek my help. From the various email, I thought he was waiting for my supervisor decision only.

As a result, myself and my peer were dragged into the issues as not involved enough in the issue. However, from the email communication, we or at least I thought that he was waiting for my superior decision only and nothing much I should do unless he come to me and seek help to get the decision. He did not come to me but immediately send the email out to the whole department including the intern.

There are a few areas he could have managed the issue better:

1. If he had followed up (just ask)the request for decision (2 days waiting) either from my superior or me, he could have obtained the decision. I told him before that he should follow up if decision is not made by me or my superior within a few days. In this case, he is not fair to my superior as the email sent for follow up immediately include expression of frustration.
2. I told him a few times (he joined for less than 7 months) that if he needs help, he can come to me as I will not be able to know if I am not alerted.
3. Based on his email, my superior thought that I hardly involved in running the event. However, the fact is that I checked with my staff on and off if he needs any help and I help him to fill in the gap. For organising event, from knowing nothing he knows how to go about the whole process including getting the approval from group CEO through CFO after getting internal approval, whether should prepare breakfast or not, order for how many pax rather than merely order the number of participants registered, what are the options for venue, getting to know administration department for event preparation, prepare flat rate parking tickets for participants, and so on.
4. The more direct involvement for me is to show him and discuss on various options on the above items. I also personally invited other market participants from my contact whenever he needs to fill up the empty seats.
5. In other words, I follow up, work with him, guide him, provide assistance whenever he needs in various issue even though I have delegated the event to him to manage. I could have be more hand-on or more micro manage the event but I do not like to be micro manged in the first place. Hence, I do not do what I dont like other to do upon me.
6. One thing I think he did wrongly is that he should not have cc the email to an intern. This whole issue is about our event and our department. I do not know if the intern shares this incident to other people and what will be other people's perception on the teamwork and the 3 heads in the department. The issue could have been solved amicably just by asking for decision as a follow up action after waiting for two days.

I will check with him on the incident and of course I will adjust my management style accordingly to improve our team work and communication. I conclude that we should improve our communication for better teamwork, group performance, and less miscommunication.

Happy events:

1. Went to register myself to take part in the one month slimming challenge. My goal is to reduce 5 kg again this year but will use a more healthy way to do it i.e. more exercise.
2. Learned quite a bit of islamic finance knowledge from the 3rd or last half-day workshop conducted by my colleague. I also highlighted a few proposal and they will think about them from the islamic capital market aspects and get back to me later. Feel happy that my thinking cap is still intact.
3. I bought a total of 15 boxes of dates for my muslim friends and many of them like it. Feel happy that they like it and feel happy that they appreciate my friendship.