Enough Complaining! Number 2

As a leader, how do you keep your own complaining in check?

As a leader, it is easy to slip into a habit of complaining publicly among your staff members.  You're the leader so your positional authority often makes staff members feel that they must listen to you.  However, are you aware of just what you're saying?  Do you tend to complain to them?  If so, what might they be taking away from hearing your complaints? 

Your complaints can be damaging to morale within the workplace.  The negativity you bring into conversations can chip away at the interest and enthusiasm your staff members feel for their work or the school/organization itself.  Staff members look to leaders to be optimistic and motivating.  Your complaining can be producing the opposite effect.

Next time you find yourself even thinking about complaining out loud among staff members, consider what impact this might have on your colleagues.  If it doesn't help them in their daily work, it's probably best to keep it to yourself.  If you really need to air your comments, find a confidante - outside the workplace - who understands your need and can support you. 

Sometimes They Need to Know

As a leader, how much do you share with your staff?  How do you share it?

As leaders, we have many conversations in our offices with many different people or groups.  In some cases, significant discussions take place.  Some of these discussions end up in important decisions.  However, just because the conversation happened in your office and it was held with a group of key stakeholders, it doesn't mean that your staff knows what's going on.  How do you share important discussions, decisions, or information with all staff? 

Here are a few questions to ask yourself about how you share - or not! - the conversations you have:

• Who needs to know?
• Does everyone need to know?  If so, why?
• Who would like to know?  And just because they'd like to know, does it mean you share with them?
• Who might be affected by the discussions or decisions?  How will they find out what was discussed?
• Might you be missing additional thinking if some people are left out of discussions?
• How do you share discussions / decisions / information? 
• Do people have a variety of ways to access information from you?
• What might be the impact if some people don't know about the discussions or decisions?

Communication is a critical aspect of any school/organization.  People can feel included - or excluded - based on their access to information.  Exclusion from information can have a negative affect on both performance and morale.  In 2012, communication has never been easier.  Multiple methods of sharing information (bulletin boards, memoes, Twitter, email, etc.) have made it possible for everyone to have virtually immediate access to information. 

Don't risk damaging staff morale or their performance because you - as the leader - neglected to share information.