The hardest lessons to learn are often the most important.
In business, apathy comes easily and often. True leadership is hard, as are the lessons which separate the managerial wheat from the chaff. Managers who have come this far are no doubt adequate. Maybe even good.
But…as a manager:
Are you willing to take that extra step and become great?
Are you willing to venture into the rarefied air beyond where the safe and well worn path has ended?
Step forward or turn back now.
As difficult as this lesson is to learn, it is equally difficult to discuss the picture-perfect metaphor that cements the lesson into the psyche of a successful manager. Maybe it is impossible. If a manager is here seeking greatness, it may only be around the next bend. Prepare to remove any bias and crush the impulse to cringe for greatness lays on the other side.
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Proof of life.
It is a concept in kidnappings requiring the captors show proof the hostages are still alive. No money will exchange hands until proof of life has occurred.
While kidnapping is only occasionally justified and rarely used anymore(thank goodness!), this concept is mandatory if you want to coax your employees to their fullest potential.
For your employees, what is proof of life? Simply stated, as their manager, you should demand clear and convincing proof that their tasks are complete before handing over their (arguably) hard-earned money.
As mentioned in the bestselling book “Micro-Management: Revitalizing a Lost Art to Fend Off the Upcoming Millennial Revolution” there are 5 things you can do to incorporate proof of life in the workplace.
1) When working from home have employees take their picture while holding today’s newspaper and post it to the team. This accomplishes 3 things:
-encourages a friendly competition to *dress for success*
-forces them be current with worldly events
-done every day, this gives you a photo montage flip sheet and will enable you quickly assess their trajectory on the Hot or Not scale. Is there anything worse that a formerly svelte, hot-Carl transitioning into a lumpy, tepid-Carlson ?
2) Remove the direct deposit paycheck policy. With direct deposit, no longer does a physical check exist as financial leverage against your employees. Turn back the clock to the retro-productive procedure of handing out checks to employees at their desks Friday after lunch. Must be present to win.
3) Use status reports. An old managerial favorite with a proof-of-life twist.
One to-do list on Monday, and a got-this-done list on Friday.
Any work not complete gets deducted from their pay. It seems fair – because it is fair.
4) Hand over a ransom note. HR might call them development plans – but that’s just semantics as the terms are interchangeable. These are used for long range planning and involve incentives such as: raises, promotions, demotions, and layoffs. Agree upon a list of long-range tasks for which they are to be rewarded. Make the employee suggest their own goals. If tasks aren’t complete, a throat will be cut. Ransom notes are a simple and effective contract between you and your hostages. Easy, peasy…I’ll fire you if your work isn’t done to my satisfaction and whim.
5) Once in a while, set one hostage free. How you choose to do this is up to you. Promote someone into management. Transfer them into a different department. Call of the search for truants. Offer an inspiring speech at their retirement or funeral after a decades-long, stress-filled, stroke-induced demise into the great beyond. Or even euthanasia. The possibilities only end when your imagination exhausts, like the police dogs did while traversing the swamp.
There it is.
Proof of life. An essential contract between great managers and the employees who help make them great.
Demand it before handing over the money.