Turns "downers" into Doers!

Today whilst working down in Bristol as a second pharmacist to do MUR's (I know! What luxury!) I popped over to another store to cover the pharmacist so that she could go and meet with some of her team...urgently! It took me back several years to my days of Area Managership and well.....

If I had know then what I know now about how to communicate with people to get the best from them and to turn the downers into doers - well! Life would have been SO much easier!

I was very much reminded of that as the young field manager came back looking a little stressed following a lunch time moaning....oops! I mean meeting at one of her stores. When I enquired was the meeting a success he just kinda looked at me with a wry smile  and said..."Well....they had a good moan and got if off their chests" By the look of her - she'd shouldered the woes and bought them back with her!

So - they had a moan, felt temporarily justified and nothing got resolved. Hmmm....

A little tip for those who may ever find themselves in this situation at work...or at home maybe.....let your employees/family know that your door is always open for them to get something off their chests.....AND.....this is the way you expect them to do it:-

They come with their problem/moan only if they have three possible solutions AND they have one they they would reccommend to you because x x x x x

How much better all round would that now turn out????? :-)