Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

Message from the Lead Dog Principal -Summer rant #1

When is being punitive OK?

Greetings:

I hope all is well on your end.  I am taking a little twist with today’s article inasmuch as I will be venting some of my ongoing concerns. Perhaps my words will stimulate some challenging summer reflection. And yes, I am bitching.

The other day I was in a meeting in which we were talking about several employees who were not being the most cooperative individuals.  This discussion was occurring in a childcare / school setting.  I suggested a meeting with those individuals accompanied by a stern letter to each employee explaining that if one did not comply within two weeks termination would occur.

I was sternly chastised by one of my colleagues claiming that my idea was “too punitive.”  The rest of the group agreed with my colleague and I was quickly banished to my “mean guy” island in isolation while the group hoped that I would see the error of my ways. I did not and I still do not.

Let’s agree to several postulates or “givens.”

• Childcare workers and teachers are underpaid and underappreciated.
• Bosses tend to easily forget about gratitude.
• We tend to ask the same people to do more and come to expect it. Namely, we overwork the “doers” on the team.

Yet, why does it seem that I have to beg so many people to just do one’s job?  I have to plead with them to act like a member of our team. They continually seek to make compromises.   Yes, I have to kiss their butt to get a day’s work from them.  I am tired of this dance.  Our culture is out of whack. However, just like activist Fannie Lou Hamer once said, “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

So now, to prove that I am not the Neanderthal that I may seem, I assure you that I have asked, pleaded, coached up, shown how, been respectful, been patient, cajoled and have offered tangible incentives and some still some will not comply. Once again, it is the “tail that is wagging the dog,” and I am just so tired of this game.   It just doesn’t make sense.

Yes, to some my suggestion of termination may seem punitive.  Enough already.  It is time for some people to just be shown the exit door. I am convinced that we can always do better.  Of course, this quest may be tiring, but I am convinced that it is well worth it.