I know what you’re thinking. Mixed messages, you get them all the time.
Everyone gets them. One time or another.
And, if you’re trying to reach a resolution you get them too.

I know plenty of people working for a living. Working hard. Many have shared their belief upper management just doesn’t seem to know what they’re doing. What? How could the bosses not know?

We’re changing directions? We can’t possibly do more work without hiring more headcount. Or this, we hired more headcount but now we have to spend time training the new employees and we can’t possibly get our goals accomplished. Why doesn’t management understand? Doesn’t anyone know what they’re doing?

And it may not just be with principals. Sometimes it’s with co-workers too. The ones always trying to get ahead.
Sometimes by kissing up. I’ll do that!” Or “let me do this too!”

They are so intent on getting ahead, they forget you’re there too. And so they’re giving mixed messages too.

So back to reaching resolutions. Getting mixed messages?
Yes?

When I’m working to reach a contract resolution I listen to my principals. Always.
They’re the people who are giving me direction.

But what if I don’t understand their direction? Or what if it seems yesterday’s direction is now changed today.
Are they lying? Or don’t they know what they’re doing?

After a pause and a deep breath or three, I realize they are just like me. They’re making decisions based on what they know; what direction they’re being given and also just like me, they basing their decisions on their own fears and expectations.

This especially happens when the principals are new. It’s because as they experience the learning curve their positions and their directions change. With co-workers it could be they’re afraid of making a mistake or simply wanting to be noticed.

It took me awhile but I began to see a couple of things.

#1, maybe my principals did know more than me.
Maybe they had access to the bigger picture and knew of how my area fit in within the company’s overall larger goal.
Maybe my concerns were dwarfed in the overall scheme. Maybe.

Or #2, maybe they didn’t know what they weren’t talking about.

Either way, my responsibility was to gently let them know my concerns, the risks and anticipated outcomes.
And then let them direct me.
If I was wrong, it’s OK. If I was right, I’m covered too.

Reaching resolutions shouldn’t be hard. It really doesn’t have to be.
It does become hard when we fight back.
Or get angry because we don’t understand the big picture.

My advice: Relax.
Take a deep breath. Or three.
You will survive.

JT

Check out the vid link.
My new personal anthem…

It’s OK.
It’s from a football movie…