Koka Sexton has some good tips about how to be a wise manager when working with people. Check it out.
Ya, as a guy that works with people in another sphere (education) outside the business world, this stuff still applies.
I prefer a more direct approach (there’s a reason why my roommate called me “The Pugnacious Irishman.” I even got confrontational with a maintanence worker today..didn’t help.), but posts like this are good reminders to me. Sometimes, his tips can help, because you gotta ask yourself, “am I willing to die on this hill?” If not, going the indirect route–for example, sending the company email–is the more wise road.
Of course, you gotta admit, on the other hand, that sometimes the methods might backfire…the person might catch that the mass email is about them, and might resent that you just didn’t come to them first.
I guess you can’t hit a homerun every time…
Regardless, I still have much, much to learn in people skills (and much more still to apply), and this helps.
Thanks for mentioning my site. I also seem to take on the direct approach. Sometimes just telling the guy he smells is the best option.