Facing Disciplinary Action

 Good day. How are you doing?

 Today we will be discussing Facing Disciplinary Action.

If your employer has a complaint about your attitude to work or the quality of your work, they could choose to take disciplinary actions against you. No one prays for such but unfortunately, even believers also face disciplinary action.

So, how does one respond when facing disciplinary action?

1. Try to have an informal session to check out the possibility of resolving the issue.

2. Try to document every related conversations formally and not rely only on verbal evidence.

3. Your employer should have a written procedure on the steps to be taken when facing disciplinary action. Typically, they should arrange a meeting at a reasonable time and place to discuss the problem. Typically, you should have the right to ask someone (a colleague or a trade union representative) to accompany you to the meeting. You should be given the opportunity to defend yourself.

Please share your views and experiences on facing disciplinary action. Scriptural references are welcome.

LEARNING FROM PAST SUCCESSES/MISTAKES

 Good day ladies. How are you doing?

 Today's Tip is - Learn from past successes/mistakes and the successes/mistakes of others...

I had a lengthy discussion with a colleague in the course of the week on this topic. I told him that it is silly to rely solely on one's experiences when making decisions. There is great value in learning from the successes/mistakes of others.

When faced with a new task, I think there is value in checking with someone that has done the task before. Listen carefully to them. Whether you're talking with someone that successfully completed the task or one that did not, the steps they describe will guide you on how to go about YOUR task.

Some may try to discourage you from the task but try to get them to tell you why they think the task is so difficult. Listen to the real obstacles they're talking about and ask the Lord to show you how to deal with that obstacle (once you're sure you're on the path God wants you to go).

Please share your views and experiences

Dealing with difficult clients

Good day. How are you doing?

 I'll like to talk about dealing with difficult customers/clients today.
 

If you own a business, you NEED a steady flow of customers/clients for the business to survive. (Un)fortunately, difficult people are very likely to be part of the mix. As your career progresses, you are also most likely to interact with client representatives, some of whom may prove difficult at some point.

I'll share some tips I picked from an article I found on the Business Know-How website.

 1. Listen, without interrupting, to their concern. When they are done speaking, recap and if necessary, ask questions to help you clarify the real issue.
2. If you are communicating with the difficult customer/client using electronic media, don't respond immediately. Give yourself some time to analyze and understand what is really going on so that you don't send a hasty response that you'll ultimately regret.
3. Instead of reacting emotionally when your work is criticised harshly, use the opportunity to learn areas where you could improve. As I was dealing with a difficult client representative, I realised that a major issue was that I wasn't communicating the way he preferred. I have changed my mode of communication to suit his style and we're having less conflicts.
4. Whenever there are cost implications involved, I think it's best to involve your manager (for those in paid employment). Don't agree to take the loss before discussing with your manager. Leave that decision to your manager, please.
5. If you are self-employed, you need to do a cost-benefit analysis before deciding whether to absorb the cost of rework/scope creep or to ask for more money to address that concern. Taking the right decision in situations like this may very well determine how long you'll stay in business.

 Please share your views and experiences

Utility - Meeting Your Customer's Needs

Good day people. I'm thinking today of the term "utility". As usual, I have a story to explain my point.

 

I got a tricycle to get me out of the estate in order to meet up with others. As I boarded the tricycle, I told the driver that I had a time contract with some people at the drop-off point. As we moved on, the driver decided to pick up some other passengers. He waited inordinately for a passenger that eventually did not board the tricycle. Due to the unnecessary delays as a result of the driver's poor decisions, I missed the people I was supposed to meet at the drop-off point.  I still paid him the complete fare. Though my preference would have been to meet up with my appointment, missing it is just an annoyance and not hyper-critical.

 

This incident got me thinking about "utility". Did the driver deserve to be paid the accurate fare? Though he provided the service (got me to the drop-off point), I did not derive utility from the service he provided.

 

A definition of utility is "the state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial". If the customer does not derive utility from your goods/services, you are unlikely to get repeat business in a competitive market. It's great to manufacture 'fantastic' goods or provide 'top-notch' services. If your customer does not derive utility from what you're selling or providing, I assure you that you won't be in business for long.

 

Another interesting thing is that while I was trying to express my dissatisfaction respectfully (customer feedback), he began to give me 'counsel' on how to meet up with my appointment in future. You may find that hilarious but it's definitely not a smart move in business. Customer feedback is valuable, it gives you insight on your strengths and highlights areas where improvement is needed. Listen objectively to what your customer is saying. For as long as their requests do not negate the core values of your company/business, which hopefully includes ethics, you should explore reasonable cost-effective means to satisfy your customers. I guess you know that they are the primary channels of blessings for your company/business.

 

Have a blessed and productive day.

DISCERNING WHEN AND WHEN NOT TO PURSUE

I'll like to share a bit today about discerning when to pursue and when to relax. I have 2 stories to share and a scripture to conclude.
Story 1
I paid out of pocket for a course organised by the professional association I belong to and I needed the receipt to claim my money back from my organization. As usual (for me), I realised that I had lost the receipt.
I was going to sit in my corner and mourn my loss but my friend encouraged me to get to the association's office to ask to make a photocopy of their copy of the receipt.
It would require some effort and every lazy bone in me resisted the move, lol.
I finally overcame the inertia and went to the office. The lady I met there claimed that all the booklets had been sent to Abuja. My lazy bones were screaming "I told you so" but I couldn't imagine going back with no receipt.
I rarely beg anyone for favors (one of the issues my friends have with me, lol) but for some reason I refused to leave the office.
I remembered a post I had put up about "Lessons from Nehemiah" so while standing there, I prayed to the God of Heaven to show me what my next step ought to be.
As I stood there, a man came in to tell Madam that he couldn't help her print her son's JAMB (or whatever it's called now) score from their website. I watched them as they fiddled around trying to solve the problem. After a few minutes, I asked if I could try to help. After performing some 'magic', I printed the score for her, lol.
After that, the booklet that had been sent to Abuja mysteriously reappeared in the Lagos office. She even stamped documents that didn't need stamps and began to tell me the story of the boy whose JAMB scores I printed...how she adopted him etc.
Story 2
I applied for registration along with some of my friends. We all submitted our forms on the same day. I think I did the bulk of the work that day sef and even lost some money in the process. Part of the verification process involves checking with my university. One of my friends graduated from the same department as I did (different years).
When the list of successful applicants came out, my name was not there. Of course, my friends had to be sensitive and not be overjoyful (My friends are good people, hehehe).
I got the number of someone in Abuja to understand why my name was not on the list. The man kept telling me to call him back in 30 minutes then won't pick the calls.
After about 3 weeks of doing this dance, he finally told me that my school has not responded to their request. It's surprising that the school responded in my friend's case and not mine...Ironically, I was the one that encouraged my friend to get registered.
I could begin to chase what's causing the delay in my school or I could wait for the 1 month the man asked me to check back. I think it's wiser to wait, right?
When David and his community were attacked and their city burnt down as a result of their minding other people's business instead of theirs (See 1 Samuel 29-30), the first question David asked God was "Shall I pursue?"
I think that's a sensible question for us all to ask when we are faced with challenges. Too many of us are holding on to careers; businesses, relationships etc that we need to either let go or relax about while some other gave in prematurely.
I believe our proper response to challenging situations is to ask GOD what our next steps out to be. The best of men/women is still a human being with limited wisdom.
I pray for the discernment to know when to pursue and when to relax for each of us, in Jesus' Name. Amen
Have a blessed and productive day.

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DISCERNING WHEN AND WHEN NOT TO PURSUE

I'll like to share a bit today about discerning when to pursue and when to relax. I have 2 stories to share and a scripture to conclude.

 

Story 1

I paid out of pocket for a course organised by the professional association I belong to and I needed the receipt to claim my money back from my organization. As usual (for me), I realised that I had lost the receipt.

I was going to sit in my corner and mourn my loss but my friend encouraged me to get to the association's office to ask to make a photocopy of their copy of the receipt.

It would require some effort and every lazy bone in me resisted the move, lol.

I finally overcame the inertia and went to the office. The lady I met there claimed that all the booklets had been sent to Abuja. My lazy bones were screaming "I told you so" but I couldn't imagine going back with no receipt.

I rarely beg anyone for favors (one of the issues my friends have with me, lol) but for some reason I refused to leave the office.

I remembered a post I had put up about "Lessons from Nehemiah" so while standing there, I prayed to the God of Heaven to show me what my next step ought to be.

 

As I stood there, a man came in to tell Madam that he couldn't help her print her son's JAMB (or whatever it's called now) score from their website. I watched them as they fiddled around trying to solve the problem. After a few minutes, I asked if I could try to help. After performing some 'magic', I printed the score for her, lol.

 

After that, the booklet that had been sent to Abuja mysteriously reappeared in the Lagos office. She even stamped documents that didn't need stamps and began to tell me the story of the boy whose JAMB scores I printed...how she adopted him etc.

 

Story 2

I applied for registration along with some of my friends. We all submitted our forms on the same day. I think I did the bulk of the work that day sef and even lost some money in the process. Part of the verification process involves checking with my university. One of my friends graduated from the same department as I did (different years).

When the list of successful applicants came out, my name was not there. Of course, my friends had to be sensitive and not be overjoyful (My friends are good people, hehehe).

I got the number of someone in Abuja to understand why my name was not on the list. The man kept telling me to call him back in 30 minutes then won't pick the calls.

After about 3 weeks of doing this dance, he finally told me that my school has not responded to their request. It's surprising that the school responded in my friend's case and not mine...Ironically, I was the one that encouraged my friend to get registered.

I could begin to chase what's causing the delay in my school or I could wait for the 1 month the man asked me to check back. I think it's wiser to wait, right?

 

When David and his community were attacked and their city burnt down as a result of their minding other people's business instead of theirs (See 1 Samuel 29-30), the first question David asked God was "Shall I pursue?"

 

I think that's a sensible question for us all to ask when we are faced with challenges. Too many of us are holding on to careers; businesses, relationships etc that we need to either let go or relax about while some other gave in prematurely.

 

I believe our proper response to challenging situations is to ask GOD what our next steps out to be. The best of men/women is still a human being with limited wisdom.

 

I pray for the discernment to know when to pursue and when to relax for each of us, in Jesus' Name. Amen

 

Have a fantastic weekend.