Comments on: Management hack: death by next action

By: Hal Halladay

Hal Halladay — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 00:22:27 +0000

Great guidance. While I would like to say that I could “lead” or “teach” my employees, colleagues, or interns to be responsive and that such responsiveness is necessary for a team to function, we all know the truth that sometimes such a hack is the only way to get it done. I love the concept you introduced that this may be most effective coming from a “more balanced type” otherwise it is just micro-management.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 14:57:27 +0000

@Christo: good point about the generational difference.

One lesson that comes through whether from watching "The Apprentice", reading books, or just living life is: know your audience. There's a relatively famous anecdote about how Napoleon supposedly gave three different commanders the exact same mission couched three different ways because of their differences as people.

Good mgrs can lead people...great mgrs can tailor leadership based on knowing the individual. So the question Christo brings up is this: how do you accomplish this hack on someone who is going to perceive this as "nagging"? Maybe for that crowd it's even more important to have gotten them invested in the task ahead of time so that they see this more as "they need to get you what they want to get you" instead of "they need to get you what you want from them".

@Lorin, another technique is updates via email. A lot of times mgrs are looking less for the actual results--unless it's actually time sensitive, which most things are not--and more for proof that progress is being made. So telling your boss, "hey we made a little progress today" can often stave off those annoying--and nagging--emails.

Mike

By: Scott Young

Scott Young — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 14:07:25 +0000

Guilt is a powerful tool of persuasion. Frankly, if I were in charge of this person, I'd make the consequences of not doing their job relevant. I suppose, however, this can work in a situation where you aren't in a superior power position.

Good post!

By: Christo

Christo — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 12:01:11 +0000

Cool, but commonly done hack. Still, some good advice though. Only real problem is; works only in the ‘Old United States’ – not the ‘New’ one. In this ‘NEW US of A’ the other side will likely sick a pack of rabid Pit Bulls after you if you pull that number.

By: Bren

Bren — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 04:26:45 +0000

@Wayne: Excellent reminder of a very effective corrolary, thanks!

@Laurence: Your mom was visionary... :-)

@Angelo: Uh...maybe. These things come to me in dreams--you can't force that kind of stuff, man. :-)

@Lorin: Easy--overcommunicate. Beat them to the punch. If they have to ask, then it's your bad. This has the dual effect of being a preemptive strike, AND it lights a fire under your butt to "git 'er dun". Additionally, there's a threshold to overcommunicating--it's lower for some folks than others. This just makes the hack all that more spicy.

By: Lorin Rivers

Lorin Rivers — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 00:47:42 +0000

What suggestions do you have for the other direction? In other words, good ways to let the people who are waiting for stuff that it’s running late?

By: Angelo

Angelo — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 13:21:25 +0000

Interesting format for something I’ve used quite a few time. Got more of those?

By: laurence haughton

laurence haughton — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 22:41:10 +0000

I wrote about the process of encouraging the next action at the WSJ. My source called it "nagging." Joanne Lipman (the executive in charge of the follow through for a big project there) actually had a checklist of hints abut how to nag and yet not be too annoying.

I never imagined until I interviewed Ms. Lipman that my Mom was practicing a "management hack."

By: Wayne Holly

Wayne Holly — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 21:31:51 +0000

A collary to the process od Death by Next Action is the ultimatum e-mail. After several attempts to get an answer or decision, I send the gatekeeper an email stating that unless I hear otherwise from them by X date, I will proceed with my proposed action.

I have never had an answer to one of these e-mails. I have proceeded and been none the worse for it. Try it sometime!