Guest Article: Noise is a Failure of Leadership by Jay Kuhns, SPHR

I've been thinking about real work vs. the noise of work. The real work is easy to identify...it's what you were hired to do. The noise of work however often supplants the real work.

How does that happen? Why does it happen? What can be done about it?

Three Questions - One Answer
When I was in high school I was never surprised when some kids lived for gossip, acted immature, or thought they were really slick stirring the pot.  I always thought they were embarrassing themselves.

As I entered the workforce I was surprised to see that those behaviors don't stop.

Ever.

1.  How does it happen?
The noise happens because:
- the immaturity that dominated many of our high school classmates simply does not go away
- leadership allows it to happen

2.  Why does it happen?
The noise happens because:
- those same immature and frequently miserable colleagues of ours are so self-absorbed that they are unable to think at the big-picture level. They will never understand how organizations actually function because they are still wallowing in their own mess.
- leadership allows it to happen

3.  What can be done about it?
This one is easy, but most leaders will not do it.
- leadership needs to be direct, even confrontational if necessary, to not only stop the behavior, but to ensure it never happens again (yes, that means sometimes those team members need to move on and mess up the competition instead of your company)

Attention Leaders: Do Your Job
I've worked with so many leaders that are constantly lamenting the fact that certain members of their team are disruptive (not the good way); unable to lead, etc...yet they are unwilling to take firm, decisive action.

Why?

This answer here is easy too. They are scared to death. Leadership is not a popularity contest. Think about all of the other hardworking, loyal employees who are watching you sit idly by as this scorcher of an employee wreaks havoc on the team.

Guess who looks foolish now?

How About You
Isn't it about time you held the negative influencers accountable for real? Just imagine how impressed the rest of your team will be...with you.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Article source:Jay Kuhns, SPHR - Noise is a Failure of Leadership»

Check out more of Jay Kuhns' work at No Excuses HR