Leadership Style and Motivation
Joan and Charlie meet in Joan's office. Joan is Charlie's manager and Charlie is the dock supervisor.
Joan: Thanks for stopping by. Can I talk to you for a couple of minutes?
Charlie: Yeah, sure.
Joan: Well, I was just wondering—how are you doing? Is everything okay?
Charlie: Yeah, everything's fine.
Joan: Oh, well, I noticed that the last two Mondays that you've come in late, and I tried to get you into a special meeting last week, but I couldn't find you.
Charlie: I'm sorry. It's been tough getting the kids to school on Monday.
Joan: Oh, are they OK? Is everything all right?
Charlie: Yeah, they'll be all right.
Joan: OK, well, if you ever need to chat, just come by my office. Oh, by the way, I have a special project that I would like you to work on. Now, I'll need the results soon, but you know what? We can talk about that later. I will set up a meeting and send you a memo. OK?
Charlie: Yeah, sure.
Joan: Great.
Charlie and a coworker, Monica, meet at the water cooler.
Charlie: That woman keeps pestering me! This past month, it's been like I'm her pet project or something. She'll corner me and ask me about my personal life. It's like she wants to spend 30 minutes discussing my weekend, when all I want to do is get here, get my job done, get out at a decent hour, and go home to my family.
Monica: Yeah, I hear you. We don't have time to "yap" about this stuff. I say, just let me come in and do my job, and leave me alone.
Charlie: Yeah! And now she's got me doing these "special projects." Like I've got time to do that!
Monica: What did you say to her?
Charlie: Well, what could I say? She's scheduled a meeting and I've got to go. I've been coming in later on Mondays just to avoid her, but she's complained about that. I usually try to find out when she's in an upper management meeting or out of her office just so I can take a break.
Back in Joan's office, Joan writes a memo to Charlie.
Joan (thinking to herself):
To: Charlie Morrison, Dock Supervisor.
I hope your kids are well. How was this morning's school drop-off?
Please come by my office today at 3:15 to discuss the special project I mentioned last week. I need that information before the district manager's monthly meeting next week, and your help is essential.
Please feel free to drop by to chat with me at any time.
Joan