Self Management

• CASES OF CONFRONTATIONS I WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE

CASE 1

THE SUBJECT

Many companies are faced with internal or system problems. Sometimes, we tend not to accept that we or our companies are faced with such problems hence we blame others instead of finding out the causes and the way forward.

WHAT HAPPENED

A client issued a cheque in respect of some services delivered to him by my company. Unluckily, on the clients’ bank statement the cheque was presented 6 months after the date of cheque, but the client did not mention to me that he had called earlier requesting for the cheque to be cancelled due to the delay so he could pay cash. I insisted that the problem could only come from the bank so advised him to see his bank instead.

THE DIFFICULTIES

It was difficult for me to accept that the problem started from ‘us’ as a company and not from the clients bankers.

WEAK POINTS

My inability to listen well to the problem or needs of the client resulted in my failure. In my quest to meet the needs of the client I was a little impatient and too quick to find blame it on someone else.

CASE 2

THE SUBJECT

Sometimes people look up to us or confront us with their challenges or problems and to their dismay you also are battling with the same problem.

WHAT HAPPENED

Most of my colleagues and subordinates were not happy with the leadership style of our unit head. They confronted me with the issue as their supervisor and asked that I speak with her concerning their plight. She took decisions without our input and also thought she had become forgetful, careless, rude and inaccessible for most part of the day at work. But unfortunately, I was unable to raise these concerns with her.

THE DIFFICULTIES

I did not know how I was going to start up with the whole issue and her reaction to the issue. I also felt that she might think that I was ganging up against her or finding faults with her work....