THE SOCIETY OF INSTANT GRATIFICATION
Instant sex
Instant food
Instant news
Instant loans
Instant coffee
Instant billing
Instant photos
Instant service
Instant banking
Instant branding
Instant messaging
Instant knowledge
Instant cash advances
Instant sports replay
NOW……………………….
Instant management!
Patience in the workplace is not a priority. It's hard to be patient even in "fast food" restaurants; somehow they are not fast enough. It may be the world's oldest cliché, but patience really is a virtue, especially in the workplace. Yet ineffective managers are more likely to act as if impatience is a virtue. This trait of North American culture is becoming exceedingly dangerous to our human relationships…… on and off the job.
The problem with being an effective manager is that it takes TIME. There are many one-minute books on the market. There is even one titled, "The One-Minute Manager" by Kenneth H. Blanchard and Spencer Johnson. It's a catchy title with a lot of assumptions about one-minute this and one-minute that, but hello, what can you do in 'one-minute' that is anywhere near caring about your people. The One Minute techniques suggested are:
One-Minute goal-setting: Take time to set major goals so the employee knows what needs to be done.
One-Minute praising: Praise your employees by catching them doing the RIGHT thing.
One-Minute reprimand- First reprimand the BEHAVIOR; secondly encourage the PERSON.
While these behaviors may have validity - setting goals, praising/reprimanding behavior in a timely fashion - taking only one minute with them may get you into trouble. Employees may want, and need, more than a one-minute quick fix and managers should find the time to pay attention to those needs.
In order to have this one-minute philosophy, managers may sacrifice rational reasoning and good relationships. There is even a book titled, "The 59-Second Employee: How to Stay One Second Ahead of Your One-Minute Manager" by Rae Andre. This is an employee's response to formula management, an antidote to quick-fix fads that give as little time as possible to employee concerns.
In the movie "Postcards from the Edge", mother (Shirley MacLaine) rebukes daughter (Meryl Streep) by saying: "Your generation is only interested in instant gratification."
The daughter whines in reply: "Instant gratification takes too long."
As the saying goes, "Everything comes to him who waits." The secret to waiting is patience.
Keep in mind that management is both an art and a science. Being an effective manager requires selecting approaches appropriate in a specific setting then applying them using one's own style. Because management isn't based on the Pavlovian response, Blanchard and Johnson's formula doesn't work in all situations.
If all you have to offer is one minute, the inevitable question is, "Why"?
Maybe........................................................................................
Instant arrogance.
