Q. I work with a medium sized company and have been employed here for two years. I am considering quitting my job out of frustration because my manager is such a poor communicator. He does not know how to talk to the staff members, he is very gruff and does not display good manners. This has de-motivated so many members of staff. Further, those of us who report to him are always the last to find out information about what is happening in the rest of the company. I am afraid of complaining because he can be very vindictive and can make my life a living hell. I really enjoy my job but my manager is driving me out. Help!

A. Unfortunately, managers often lack the communication skill to keep their employees engaged on the job. The truth is many managers are rewarded by being promoted to the position based on their technical skills, that is, they are really very good at what they do in their field. For, example they might be very good marketers or accountants.

Unfortunately, when they are given the responsibility to manage staff, some find that this is outside of their area of competence. Also, when they are promoted they are usually not given the necessary management training, including guidance in effective communication, to allow them to excel in their new position. Sadly, it is the employee who suffers from this lack of preparedness. Good communication by managers can be linked to low turnover, high productivity or employee engagement.
I once worked with an I.T. manager who was a whiz at his profession and was really admired by the staff at the company. He was ‘bumped up’ to management and was miserable because he did not get time to practice what he loved best. He eventually left the company out of frustration as he just could not function effectively in the new management role.

My advice is to request a meeting with your manager at a time when there is not much chance of distraction. Perhaps, you can schedule this time for early in the morning before the bustle of work begins or at the end of a not-too hectic day. Lay out your concerns to your manager (to keep your thoughts in tact you can write them down in point form). Allow for meaningful dialogue and listen to the feedback from your manager. Managers are people too with their own problems and frustrations. This meeting can be used as a starting point in you both understanding the issues with which you are faced in the workplace. The solution will not come from only one meeting.

©Yvonne Grinam-Nicholson MBA, ABC, is a Business Communications Consultant with
RO Communications Jamaica, specializing in business communication, employee communications and financial publications. Contact: yvonne@rocommunications.com; Website: www.rocommunications.com and post your comments.