visionomics^®

How to Manage People … and Enjoy it!

Visionomics®, a series of COPE- and ABO-approved business-building courses, is held at the International Vision Expos and focuses on strategies for assessing and maximizing profitability.

In this series, Eyecare Business—the official trade media partner for Visionomics at Vision Expo West—features some of the track's speakers. This month, Pam Boyd, owner of Dramatic Conclusion, shares highlights from “Staff Management Tactics.”

In spite of the passion we have for our work, many owners and managers in optical fail because of an inability to master or enjoy the management piece of the job.

“Staff Management Tactics” takes on this challenge, offering proven solutions to managerial complaints, such as: “I'm tired of doing everything myself ” or “They should know; I shouldn't have to hold their hand.”

In one of my Vision Expo workshops, an optometrist who owned 10 clinics said: “I have been doing this for years and I just don't trust people anymore.” At the end of the session, he told me the workshop had given him hope and he was going to try some of the ideas for attracting and keeping the right kind of associates.

Here's a review of our discussion regarding communication tactics:

■ ILLUSION. In his book,“7 Levers of Great Managers,” author Jim Burgin says, “The biggest problem with management communication is the illusion that communication has occurred!”

■ PAIN OR PLEASURE. It's frustrating when you tell and tell, yet things still do not get done. But, there is a simple explanation. Our brains only do things for one of two reasons: to avoid pain or experience pleasure. So, we must ask: Is my management message connected to one or both of these?

One day, when I was 17, I went to work at 7-11 to check my schedule. Something was missing—my name! I thought it was a clerical error, but my coworker said, “I heard you were fired for being lazy.”

“I'm not lazy,” I quickly retorted.

My co-worker answered, “Pam, everyone knows that when customers weren't coming in, you were fixing your hair and reading magazines.”

“Because I was trying to look good when the customers got there,” I said. I actually thought that was a legitimate excuse!

I saw the manager sweeping and stocking when we weren't busy, but I thought that's just what managers did. Or maybe, I wasn't thinking about it at all.

If my manager wanted me to be a great worker, she should have remembered the management communication illusion and said: “You want to know how to look good here? Sweep and stock. Never be idle. That's what I'm looking for.”

Had she said this, I would have swept and stocked with my whole heart and never been fired.

Remember, the secret to getting what you want from employees is to find out what they want and show them the path to get it. Otherwise, communication is not really communication and management is not really happening. EB

For more info on Visionomics, go to: http://visionwest2011.conferencepath.com/program/?action=viewtrack&trackID=878