...You’re Getting Mixed Messages
Lesson 17 from: What to Say When…Tips and Scripts for Tricky Situations at WorkIlise Benun
...You’re Getting Mixed Messages
Lesson 17 from: What to Say When…Tips and Scripts for Tricky Situations at WorkIlise Benun
Lesson Info
17. ...You’re Getting Mixed Messages
Lessons
Class Introduction
04:20 2...Others Need to Know What You’ve Accomplished
03:00 3...Someone Else Is Getting the Credit for Your Work
01:55 4...Your Boss Is Micromanaging Your Work
02:23 5...You’re Getting Too Much Work
02:15 6...It's Time for Your Annual Review
02:19 7...Your Project Has Missed Its Deadline
02:49 8...Your Boss Is Getting Too Personal
01:59...Co-Workers Are Distracting You from Your Work
02:17 10...Dealing with Co-Workers That Ask Too Many Favors
02:09 11...The Client Doesn’t like Your Work
01:37 12...Your Manager Doesn’t Totally Understand Your Work
01:57 13...There Is a Miscommunication
01:55 14...You Make a Mistake
02:12 15...A Client or Co-Worker Doesn’t Follow Through
02:08 16...You Won't Make Your Deadline
01:57 17...You’re Getting Mixed Messages
02:16 18...Dealing with Unresponsive Colleagues
02:19 19...A Co-Worker Talks Too Much During Meetings
01:50 20...You Think You Deserve a Raise
02:10 21...Networking with Strangers or VIPs
02:31 22...A Meeting Goes off Track
01:49 23...You Need to Leave a Meeting Before It Ends
01:23 24...You Arrive Late to a Meeting
01:33 25Conclusion
03:40Lesson Info
...You’re Getting Mixed Messages
What to say when you're getting mixed messages. So here's the situation. There are multiple people involved in the project you're working on and you're getting mixed messages, and you don't know who to listen to. Here's what you may be thinking and shouldn't say. "Is anyone is charge here?" Here's a solution. Get group consensus. As soon as this starts, pull the group together to discuss it. Explain the problem and try to get a group consensus. At the end of the meeting or conference call, ask the question outright, "Who owns this decision going forward?" It will make you look super organized and the group will feel better for having all been involved to hear the feedback at the same time. So here's what you could say. With curiosity. "Are you aware that the other person "is also telling me what to do "and giving me different instructions? "I think we need a meeting to figure this out together." Or, "I need you two to decide "whose decision is the final one." With generosity. "I'm goin...
g to take the liberty "of calling a quick meeting, "so we can discuss this together "to make sure we're all on the same page." Or, with humility. "I don't know whose instructions to follow "and I'm getting confused. "I'm looking for the most "cost-effective way of moving forward. "I think a quick call or meeting could resolve it." Or, humor. "Too many cooks in the kitchen. "Let's meet to discuss. "I'll bring the cookies." So the overarching idea here is that projects and teams usually work best when there is one point of contact and decision maker. But if that person is not designated, things will be chaotic, which makes for errors and miscommunication. So instead of waiting passively for them to resolve it, think about what you have the power to do to limit the potential for any problems resulting from those mixed messages. Being proactive the very first time you receive mixed messages or are not sure who the decision maker is can save the project. Make sense?
Ratings and Reviews
Karlie Jessop
Love the format of this course - it was so great to be able to select a specific situation, and then quickly learn a couple of approaches to each one.