Transcripts

Jamie Showkeir:
Because the premise on which our organizations of today were founded was generated well over a hundred years ago by people who were looking at non-skilled labor, as folks who could not be trusted and had to be told what to do.

Jamie Showkeir, author of the book Authentic Conversations, says that style of relationship, although common, doesn't really make much sense today.

Most people want to do a good job. Most people are trying to do their best, most people want to make a contribution and they do not show up with the attitude of, "I can't wait to get there to see what I can screw up today."

So Jamie is advocating that employers loosen up the reigns a little bit, allow people to self-manage because when they do, it is unlikely that they'll take advantage of the situation.

Not only is it unlikely to happen, what we've found with clients where we've done this work is that when people are responsible for their own performance management they are harder on themselves than their boss ever would be.

And making employees accountable to their colleagues rather than to a boss also has advantages.

What we typically find is if I'm accountable to my peers instead of a boss and I'm not carrying my weight, my peers are letting me know on a day-to-day basis, "Hey man, you're falling down on the job." And typically that is way more powerful corrective feedback and way more powerful positive feedback.

At somethingyoushouldknow.net I'm Mike Carruthers and that's Something You Should Know.