Indirect Management
Submitted by Malcolm on Wed, 06/18/2008 - 11:10.
My boss is under pressure at the moment and I can tell.
I am trying to help manage the situation by offering encouragement. I feel that this is indirect management. If I can offer support, I can also help mould the situation to my advantage.
Any tips?
I think the best way to help
I think the best way to help in this situation is to offer to help. Don't press the point either, just offer once and let him do with your offer what he wants.
Infering Accurately
This is a re-visit to the same problem.
My new boss is also under pressure at the moment. Unlike my previous boss she doesn't tell me of any concerns; she is the type that just gets on with it.
My colleague said that she was under pressure and stress last Friday when I wasn't in the office.
Personally I hadn't noticed it - in true AS style! Anyway, I sent her an e-mail yesterday saying that I would do anything I can do to help.
What I am also going to do is "ask" for things from her. This was I can take things off her back without placing her under any obligation.
In other words, I hope that I have read between the lines and inferred, not just stood back!
Indirect Assistance
There is not much I can do directly other than work flat out to get a second contract which will alleviate all the short term pressure.
The ppoint is that we are a very small company. The option therefore does not exist to just stay out of the fray; everyone has to make an - economic if you like - contribution.
The support that he needs is indirect or personal. It comes down to that difficult word for us - empathy!
Understanding the position he is in, and demonstrating that I do to offer support, is the best way of providing the emotional support that he needs at suhc a difficult time.
I want to do this as well because I don't think any of the younger staff have any conception of this or what the wider issues that are involved are.
Yes, better to take a low
Yes, better to take a low profile approach. Otherwise, he might see you as trying too hard and that wouldn't be a good thing.