Neil Haboush is a Montreal businessman who advocates for the benefits of business etiquette and practicing yoga and meditation.
There are lots of ways to react to problems. Some help. Some don't. Most veteran managers agree the following behaviors top the list of what not to do when things go wrong:
1. Don't point fingers. Blaming others isn't an effective leadership tool. Fault-finding focuses on the past. Solutions require moving forward.
2. Don't make excuses. Owners and employers want answers, not alibis.
3. Don't practice denial. Refusing to admit errors or mistakes won't make them go away; but it may make you disappear from the supervisory ranks sooner than you planned.
4. Don't apologize for trying something new or for taking risks even when things don't work out. Stretching the envelope is part of every manager's job. The only people who never make a mistake are those who never do anything. Even that is a mistake.
5. Don't keep beating a dead horse. If it's a bad idea, give up on it. Putting extra effort into a failing cause is folly. If you can't recognize a setback when you see one, you're in the wrong job. Good supervisors know when to back away from a flawed idea or project. That's why they always have a back-up plan. To be successful, you have to be a believer in Plan B.
Neil Haboush
Level One Data Services
451 Beaconsfield, Suite 205 Montreal, Quebec
H9W 4C2
(514) 313-3357