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Dear Dr. Faith,

We have absolutely no leadership in my organization. Everyone is scattered, morale is down, and business is flat. I'm responsible for performance improvement and guiding projects to achieve organizational goals. Yet daily I'm pulled into heavy discussions with middle managers about the lack of leadership and priorities that leave them on a ship without a navigator.

Do I just wait it out until change happen? Do I talk to others about the lack of leadership, or just keep singing the same song about communication, goals, performance improvement, and teamwork? It seems like a joke right now and makes me think I look silly. What's my role in an organization when the lights are off and nobody's home"?

Dear Quagmire,

Don't wait for leadership to kick into gear. It may not happen! Either move on, or find a way to contribute. Your best strategy is to find a business need that you want to tackle in your area of control. Align with a group of peers and interested others. See what you can make happen.

Don't complain. It only makes things worse. Secure allies and move towards a goal. If and when leadership returns, you'll have something to show for your efforts.

Dear Dr. Faith,

I need to give one of my employee's feedback about her behavior. She's annoying her peers by talking so loudly on the phone they can't concentrate. I have a meeting scheduled to talk with her about the problem. How to I convey the bad news.

Dear ‘Lost,'

To communicate bad news of any kind, following these Tips:

1. First ask for help:

I need your help with something . . .

2. Let the person know you want to talk about a problem.

I have something I'd like to talk about that's causing a problem for your peers. I'm sure it's unintentional.

3. Ask the person if he or she is willing to listen.

Can we talk about this? Do you mind if I give you some feedback?"

4. Share your experience. Be factual. Avoid blame. Don't divulge specific names of informers. Focus on the affect of her behavior on others.

5. Encourage dialogue - Hit and run conversations are not helpful.

Ask, How do you feel about this? Also ask: "What would you like to do about this?"

6. Agree on actions to take. Mutually decide what you will do next.

Dear Dr. Faith,

Recently I attended a planning meeting at the division level. I made several suggestions and each one was ignored. Later a colleague proposed the same idea and everyone jumped on it. I'm tired of this. It happens all the time. How can I be heard and respected for my ideas?

Dear Unheard

There are many possible reasons for being ignored. Timing matters. You might be waiting too long, speaking too soon talking too softly, or simply being ignored. Any and all of these may impact receptivity to your message.

Find a colleague who attended this meeting. Share your frustration. Ask for advice about what you can do to change the dynamics. Try out new behaviors. In your next meeting, tell everyone you have an idea. Say: "I have a great ideal! Do you want to hear it?" This simple tactic helps others notice and pay attention to what you have to say.

If the problem persists, find a coach to guide you. Speaking up and being heard is key to leadership and self-esteem. Good luck!

Topics

• Leadership