Angry Birds – $#*^ Does roll downhill !
What the Heck is an Angry Bird?
I personally don’t know what the gaming hype is about, but these words came to mind when starting a new office job. Unfortunately it started at the management level and just rolled down hill from there, affecting all that had the unfortunate experience of stepping in front of the avalanche!
The first month was spent in utter shock as I watched two new employees get fired as they obviously could not get on the angry bird train. Had a very hard time at the micro managing of every breathing second in that office. At times looking at me and saying, hmm thought I was an adult here. The spankings came in never ending waves! Me holding my tongue because I really needed the job (like most).
The cussing and childish behavior from management was never ending, seemingly holding the market on how to treat employees in a demeaning manner. Screaming across the office, you just duck as they flew over and when they walked in the room, you as well as all the other employees seemed to duck, eyes straight to the computer screen or down to paper, trying to not make eye contact, as you didn’t want to be the next recipient of whatever they wanted to throw.
For employers: Did you know that you can yell without raising your voice? It’s all in your approach. You may be an angry bird, but where does that anger come from? Did that employee really do something so terrible, or are you just frustrated with an out some that you simply don’t like?
Instead of approaching an employee with “How many times do I have to tell you!? How about a simple question like “why”? Wouldn’t it be better to give an employee a chance for an explanation (maybe they hadn’t done the dastardly deed!) Without giving them an opportunity to explain, all your doing is adding to an already tense situation without giving them a voice. Of course if you have an Angry Bird Hitler syndrome, all your really wanting to hear is your voice, so it doesn’t matter what a reasonable person would think. Just maybe all the frustration and anger that you portray in your own voice will result in a viable employee leaving or even worse, staying and being miserable and adopting the Angry Bird Syndrome.
Questions for the Angry Bird Employer
Have you notices that conversations stop when you walk into the room?
Have you noticed a lack of smiles and giggles? (Oh that’s right, employees are here to be productive, not happy!) Heaven forbid that they have the multi-tasking ability of typing and smiling at the same time
Do you watch employees arrive, seemingly tired, everything in black and white like the first few frames of Joe vs. the Volcano (great movie)
Can you see employees waiting by the time clock waiting to punch speaking in low voices (usually about the interview they have at lunch)
All I’m saying is maybe it’s time to look at yourself, instead of placing blame on others. You hired them, there must have been some attribute for them to be there. Maybe you don’t care about employee retention, of course that is saying you don’t care about the money spent on training these people. And of course if you don’t care about the money, then why are you in business?
As for me…I don’t like to duck and avalanches are not my friend….I’m no longer there…
