If you lead a team, do you ever find that at some point, you lost control of them? This is not about insubordination but rather your important polices and procedures.
These are not only the ways you want things to be done but need them to be done. Instead, otherwise good employees have started playing fast and loose with the rules.
I call this problem: Letting Go of Your Microphone. It?s inspired by my days in TV News.
There?s an old rule in broadcasting that you never give someone your microphone. This applied to when you were doing live interviews on TV with a handheld microphone.
You would always hold the microphone in front of someone?s face as you waited for them to answer a question. The funny thing is that most people would instinctively reach for the microphone, so they could hold it in their hands.
I can kind of understand the behavior behind why you’d want to do this as it?s probably human nature to reach for the microphone. But this was bad news if you were on TV.
The danger is that you don’t have that much time to do a Q&A session with the person and they might have an agenda.
Giving someone a microphone and the opportunity to broadcast their unedited thoughts is a recipe for disaster. People who otherwise appeared mild mannered could launch themselves into a filibuster of complaints and minutia. Most of them are excited to be on TV, which can affect their perception of time.
Before you know it, the eight-second soundbite you wanted, has become a minute long, which is an eternity in television time. Perhaps you?ve witnessed this kind of behavior at a conference when someone, who is supposed to be asking a question, goes on to talk about themselves.
When this would happen on live TV, your only choice would be to rip the microphone out of the other person?s hand. This would likely not look good on TV, especially if the talkative interview subject didn?t want to let go. They may also make matters worse by continuing to talk through this wrestling match.
I?ve seen this scenario happen enough that I never let go of the microphone. It?s all about controlling the interaction.
When you keep the microphone in your hand, you can pull it away to ask a followup question or to cut off the other person and end the interview. I was good at saying things like, ?Thanks so much…? as I pulled the microphone away and tossed the segment back to the studio.
Remember, that every second of a newscast is carefully budgeted and there?s nothing worse than having someone rambling on TV, while a producer is screaming in your earpiece for you to wrap up the interview.
It was up the reporter to control the situation by holding onto the microphone. It might not have always been seen as polite but it honored the overall goal of the newscast.
The same applies to the business world. You may not have a microphone but I?m sure you have important policies and procedures. These are things designed to make your team as productive as possible and it?s important for people to respect them.
Unfortunately, over time, people may start to get other ideas. Sometimes, these can be creative solutions but more often than not these other ideas become shortcuts.
Other times, employees who are new to your business may not understand why you do things a certain way. By not addressing the change in behavior right away, it’s like you’re giving up control of your microphone to someone.
People may say, ?We really don’t need to do this procedure. It?s kind of a pain. And we don?t care about it. This way is easier.?
It may be easier but not better. As a leader, you need to make sure that people understand why, whether it?s a matter of security, productivity, or profitability.
In most cases, this can be accomplished with just a gentle reminder. It?s a simple action you need to take. This may represent what appears to be an unnecessary step.
It?s not. Maintain control of your team. Hold on to your microphone.
