Tag: Self management
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The two faces of Janus
The two faces of Janus When I took on the role of CERN Ombud, I was not prepared to encounter what I now call the “Janus” effect. Let me give you two examples*: Adam comes to my office to share his difficulties with his supervisor, Sandra: “She’s such an ill-minded, manipulative person. She takes all
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When respect is missing
When respect is missing It’s rare that visitors to the Ombud’s office complain about the outcome of administrative decisions. There are many types of decision that can impact someone’s career, from not awarding a contract or a promotion to rejecting or imposing internal mobility, or a refusal to grant the requested resources. Such decisions are
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Asking questions to clarify expectations
Asking questions to clarify expectations While the annual performance appraisal interviews are in full swing and thinking about my discussions on the subject with visitors to my office, I feel it’s appropriate to underline the importance of each party being open, honest, respectful and considerate and, in particular, of a clear agreement between the supervisor
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Be an active bystander – the four Ds
Be an active bystander – the four Ds One really important aspect of the Ombud’s role is to stay abreast of the messages that are being passed to members of personnel in internal communications and, in particular, via the Learning & Development portfolio. I recently took part in a training session, on Zoom – where
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Why didn’t you tell me before?
Why didn’t you tell me before? Some visitors to the Ombud’s Office tell me they don’t feel entirely comfortable expressing their ideas, concerns and opinions within their team or to their supervisor or project leader. The thing is, such teams are probably losing out on early warnings of risks, game-changing ideas and thought-provoking views on
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Each and every one of us matters
Each and every one of us matters Some visitors to the Ombud’s office tell me that they are “too insignificant” or “too low” in the chain of command for their opinion to really matter. Or they tell me they feel that, because they are an assistant or a technician, there’s a difference in attitude towards
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Knowing how to set limits for ourselves and others
Knowing how to set limits for ourselves and others We all have our own needs and our own limits. They are part of our personality and can change over time as our personal and professional lives evolve. Peter* is reserved and somewhat introverted. He is appreciated by his colleagues for his kind nature and the
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The “I need” behind the “I want”
The “I need” behind the “I want” Very often in the Ombud’s Office, I hear the word “want” rather than “need”. “I want an apology from her”, “I want the guy to be fired”, “I want to be taken off this project NOW”, or even “I want you to resolve this issue for me”. These
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The power of mediation
The power of mediation In a previous article, I underlined how conflicts may actually have a constructive impact when addressed in a timely and effective fashion. One of the conflict-resolution tools that is available to all members of the CERN community is mediation facilitated by the Ombud. Unlike a formal grievance procedure, mediation has the
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Listening as an effective management tool
Listening as an effective management tool As a CERN manager, you need to have access to many different channels of information. One – and perhaps the most important – of those channels is direct communication with your team and your peers. However, if you have not created an environment where people are encouraged to speak