PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
HOW TO BE A GOOD EMPLOYEE BY J.D. MCHENRY | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
AS I TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY MEETING PEOPLE AND EXPERIENCING MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF AVIATION OPERATIONS, THERE IS A COMMON COMPLAINT I HEAR FROM EMPLOYEES. EMPLOYEES COMPLAIN REGULARLY ABOUT THEIR BOSSES, PEERS, OR THE COMPANY THEY WORK FOR. WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES; IS THIS A LEGITIMATE, JUSTIFIED COMPLAINT?
Aviation technicians are highly skilled professionals. I fully respect the industry and all the people in it. Aviation maintenance technicians progress through their aviation maintenance career by enhancing their technical knowledge and skills by means of technical training, on-the-job training and self- improvement. It is mandatory to improve technical skills in order to grow into better technicians. However, what about interpersonal skills (soft skills)? Most technicians are not formally trained in this area. Unfortunately, many companies or technicians themselves do not make an effort or take the time to train employees in the soft skills area. Soft skills include communications, teamwork, conflict resolution, time management, delegation, management understanding, and more. All the skills are non-technical and everyone needs to improve their soft skills to enhance safety and efficiency in operations. Therefore, today it is vital to recognize that soft skills are a critical piece to running smooth and efficient aviation operations.
MANAGEMENT’S PERSPECTIVE Let’s look at this situation from management’s point of view. I have been in management just about my entire aviation career and I have seen many incidents of employee negativity. Here are some examples: • A company spends money and time to provide a company function such as a summer picnic or a Christmas party. These functions are to promote
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teamwork and to show appreciation. Yet many employees simply do not show up to these functions. By not showing up, the employee is sending a very clear message — they don’t care about the team, the company, and/or their boss.
• When I was visiting one company, pizza and soda were provided to each employee every Friday. Two of the technicians complained to me by saying, “Pizza again?!”
• Another company took the entire staff, including their spouses, to Disney World for the weekend, paying for the hotel, meals and an all-day pass. Two employees complained to their boss, asking,“Do we have to go?”
• One company boss invited their top performers to a five-star hotel for four days every quarter. In this particular incident, the location was the Waikiki Beach Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii. During the dinner, the boss went around to everyone’s dinner table, visiting and making small talk. One couple complained to the boss that the hotel quality and meals were not up to their standards.
After seeing incidents like those
above, we soon realize that maybe employees are at fault as well. Yes, there are bad bosses out there and I have seen plenty of them. This is not a blame game. What we need to concentrate on is how we can become better team members for the company we work for by simply doing the right things.
MANAGE YOUR BOSS The importance of learning how to manage your boss can’t be overemphasized. In today’s busy aviation industry, employees are becoming increasingly more responsible for maintaining good working relationships with their bosses. Ultimately, how well you manage your boss will have more direct bearing on your current working conditions and your future career moves than your education and expertise. Here are the 10 commandments for effective boss management. Please keep in mind that the same principles will apply to your peers as well: 1. Have a good grasp of your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as your boss’s strengths and weaknesses. You’ll know where you two complement each other, where you conflict, and where you need help.
2. Know both the work needs and the emotional needs of your boss. When they are legitimate needs such as loyalty, feedback and support, provide them without having to be coached. Never criticize him or her in front of others. Never underestimate him or her.
3. Understand the rules of team play. Be willing to be a good team player. Your individual contribution has value, but it’s greatly enhanced as a part of the group effort. Help your boss become a good team leader.
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