To continue with my comments on the book by Marshall
Goldsmith, “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There,” this
week I will be discussing the habit of: Punishing The
Messenger.

Goldsmith was being very kind with his terminology of
punishing the messenger.  As I have viewed this habit in
action, I have found the term, “killing the messenger” to
be more appropriate. 

You know the story – an employee walks into a supervisor’s
office with news of a problem or with some advice as to
how to avoid a problem and the boss throws a hissy fit at
the employee.  The result is that the employee will most
likely never present bad news or a suggestion to that
supervisor again.

HR CONTRARIAN POINTER: Just say, “thanks” or “thank you,
I’ll deal with it.”  Nobody wants to hear bad news.  But
be thankful that you are hearing it.  Blowing-up at the
messenger doesn’t change the message, but it does change
the messenger.

To continue with my comments on the book by Marshall
Goldsmith, “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There,” this
week I will be discussing the habit of: Failing To Express
Gratitude.

Over the years if there is one consistent theme that I
have heard from employees it is, “I don’t feel like anyone
appreciates what I do.”  This comment is almost always the
result of managers not paying attention to the specific
responsibilities of employees and managers failing to say,
“Thank You,” for the work that employees perform.

HR CONTRARIAN POINTER: If you want to build a dynamic
team, remember to thank your employees for their work as
often as you can.  And don’t be fearful of thanking people
too much.  I promise that they won’t resent you for it.