The Importance of Building Alliances.Twenty- and 30-somethings, who view their workplace role quite differently than older workers, may not believe it, but on-the-job allies are a political necessity. Whether physicians or other health care professionals, these Gen-Xers vow they never want to manage. Some are only focused on acquiring skills for self-employment; some just want to do their job and go home; others are off to greener pastures PASTURES, pastures. The land on which beasts are fed; and by a grant of pastures the land itself passes. 1 Thorn. Co, Litt. 202. at the first opportunity. Why bother to develop relationships with co-workers? Eventually, however, they will discover a secret that more politically savvy older workers have always known: Information and support from workplace alliances are vital to doing your job. Today's peripatetic workers would be wise to cultivate cul·ti·vate tr.v. cul·ti·vat·ed, cul·ti·vat·ing, cul·ti·vates 1. a. To improve and prepare (land), as by plowing or fertilizing, for raising crops; till. b. allies for other reasons, too. Want to move on? A strong network is still the best tool. Need to master a skill before moving on? A resident expert can help. Starting a new job? A familiar--and friendly--face can ease the transition, especially in a destabilized health care setting. Allies can come from several groups. Peers are probably the most important. Assistance from your peers, even grudgingly grudg·ing adj. Reluctant; unwilling. grudg  ing·ly adv.Adv. 1. given, can enhance your upward mobility upward mobility n. The state of being upwardly mobile. upward mobility Noun movement from a lower to a higher economic and social status and reputation. Peers can also do you the most damage--especially those with similar skills and experience. They know more about your vulnerabilities than your boss does because often they share them. Peers usually don't acknowledge that you influence them. However, if they regularly follow your lead and take your side when it matters, they are allies. Why should your peers help you? Because you and they have some of the same needs and wants. Reciprocity reciprocity In international trade, the granting of mutual concessions on tariffs, quotas, or other commercial restrictions. Reciprocity implies that these concessions are neither intended nor expected to be generalized to other countries with which the contracting parties is still the rule that works. Your boss can--and should--be an ally. His reputation is on the line. He's expected to help you succeed or get rid of you. His boss is watching. Why not be your ally if it keeps you on the job and productive? You'll make him look good and that's a powerful reason. Don't discount your subordinates as allies. They can help you in many ways, provided you teach them why it's in their best interests to do so. They don't owe you anything but a day's work (Naut.) the account or reckoning of a ship's course for twenty-four hours, from noon to noon. See also: Day . What they do beyond that depends on a mutually beneficial Adj. 1. mutually beneficial - mutually dependent interdependent, mutualist dependent - relying on or requiring a person or thing for support, supply, or what is needed; "dependent children"; "dependent on moisture" relationship. They can be excellent information gatherers and processors. They can extend both your internal and external networks by networking with those you can't reach. If you mentor, are fair-minded, and consistently find learning opportunities for them, an alliance with you will serve them well. Can you turn enemies into allies? Absolutely. Remember what we said about establishing mutual interest and benefit? An enemy may loathe you but is always intensely interested in advancing his or her own interests. Any two people can work together if both benefit equally. How do you build alliances? It's accomplished by cultivating relationships based on mutual benefit and interest. Information and favors are traded on a quid pro quo [Latin, What for what or Something for something.] The mutual consideration that passes between two parties to a contractual agreement, thereby rendering the agreement valid and binding. basis. The bait bait a preparation containing a palatable food substance such as raw meat, carrot or bran and a pharmaceutical or poisonous substance. The purpose is to introduce the medicament or poison into the unsuspecting animal. you should use depends upon the fish you want to hook. Your peers, subordinates, and boss have different needs but they share some goals with you. Goals are the common denominator common denominator n. 1. Mathematics A quantity into which all the denominators of a set of fractions may be divided without a remainder. 2. A commonly shared theme or trait. . Here are some strategies for alliance building. Be a reliable news source Information is as important to your peers and your boss as it is to you. It makes it possible to anticipate top management's responses and plan personal strategies. You and your peers are already plugged into the same grapevines but if you can provide different information, people--especially those physicians who focus on patients to the exclusion of the organization--will ally with you. Offer feedback Giving constructive feedback to someone who needs it can build an alliance. We don't mean advice on personal hygiene personal hygiene person n → Körperhygiene f or fashion. Instead, can you explain why a candidate, vendor, consultant, or peer was selected? Such information would be important to the one who lost out. It's the most difficult kind of information to get and almost as difficult to give. If the peer or subordinate is likely to take offense rather than use the information to improve, skip this gesture. She deserves to remain clueless clue·less adj. Lacking understanding or knowledge. clueless Adjective Slang helpless or stupid Adj. 1. . However, people who crave such information are unlikely to punish the messenger. Be congenial con·gen·ial adj. 1. Having the same tastes, habits, or temperament; sympathetic. 2. Of a pleasant disposition; friendly and sociable: a congenial host. 3. If you routinely help people, they owe you. This is not brain surgery. If you are first on the scene to welcome new hires, include them for coffee, or just show a friendly interest, you have created an obligation. The fact that this is a strategy to ally with them does not matter. Share expertise When you teach someone a new skill, that person owes you. The more you share, the more you are owed. While co-workers may fall "out of like" with each other, obligations contracted informally are still binding. Consult Be a sounding board. Give dispassionate dis·pas·sion·ate adj. Devoid of or unaffected by passion, emotion, or bias. See Synonyms at fair1. dis·pas advice and never sharpen sharp·en tr. & intr.v. sharp·ened, sharp·en·ing, sharp·ens To make or become sharp or sharper. sharp a knife for a colleague's back with that advice. Good advice will increase your influence with peers, your subordinates, and even with your boss. Strive to be a role model If you're seen as a manager whose behavior, performance, or taste is worth emulating, you have power. Your peers will follow your example and want to ally with you. Don't demand credit The grapevine Grapevine - A distributed system project. always knows who did what. Even if your boss tries to grab credit for your work the grapevine will report the truth--and bum 1. bum - To make highly efficient, either in time or space, often at the expense of clarity. "I managed to bum three more instructions out of that code." "I spent half the night bumming the interrupt code. rap him for the attempted grab. Don't wait for recognition If you wait for recognition of your sterling qualities, you put a burden on your overworked boss and annoy your co-workers. It's a burden they will refuse to accept. You can--and should--discreetly seed the grapevine with news of your successes. Articulate your needs Mind readers do not exist. Tell your boss, your co-workers, and your subordinates what your priorities are. It's perfectly appropriate. For example, "I want to wrap up the XYZ XYZ interj. Informal Used to indicate to someone that the zipper of his or her pants is open. [ex(amine) y(our) z(ipper).] project by November 12." Or "I want to learn that spreadsheet program. Can you arrange it?" Make your list short and keep it non-competitive. Set time limits, and stick to them. Share a hot idea If you have an idea you Can't use but suspect a co-worker can, share it. What is more bonding than to say, "I was thinking about that project you're working on. I had an idea...." Save face for someone Your boss or a co-worker is about to tip off everyone in a meeting that she didn't read a report. You jump in and say, "Doris, remember the part about...?" supplying the information she needs. Only she will know how close she came to hurting herself. An opportunity like this doesn't present itself often but always leaves a grateful survivor in its wake. Connect people who can help each other Not everyone knows everything about co-workers, especially in other departments. Fill in the blanks. Tell Fred in accounting that Harry in information technology also orders a particular type of paper. They may be able to buy for less if they pool. You'll hear "I owe you one" from both sides. Maintaining your alliances is an ongoing process. Always express gratitude for support. A special favor deserves a handwritten hand·write tr.v. hand·wrote , hand·writ·ten , hand·writ·ing, hand·writes To write by hand. [Back-formation from handwritten.] Adj. 1. note--not an email. Mention your allies' names in the grapevine along with favorable fa·vor·a·ble adj. 1. Advantageous; helpful: favorable winds. 2. Encouraging; propitious: a favorable diagnosis. 3. comments. Provide office treats. Send cookies or popcorn your allies can share with peers and co-workers. Your name will be mentioned. Sending a press clipping (1) Cutting off the outer edges or boundaries of a word, signal or image. In rendering an image, clipping removes any objects or portions thereof that are not visible on screen. See scissoring. See also WCA. or Web information says you're sharing and appreciative. Many physicians do this for patients but it's also a chance to cultivate an ally. Offer help with a project. Six months ago an ally gave you valuable information about a clinical problem. You haven't found an opportunity to repay that favor. Why not extend an offer to proofread a report or check the numbers in next year's budget? Could you be the rehearsal audience for her big presentation? Even if your help is refused, the intention will stand for the deed until a better opportunity comes along. Marilyn Moats Kennedy is Managing Partner, Career Strategies, Inc., Wilmette, Illinois, and a long-time member of the ACPE ACPE Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education ACPE American Council on Pharmaceutical Education ACPE American College of Physician Executives ACPE Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. faculty. KEY CONCEPTS * Building Workplace Alliances * Gen-Xers * Cultivating Allies * Developing a Strong Network * Reciprocity This may come as a surprise to Gen-Xers, but on-the job allies are a political necessity Information and sup port from workplace alliances are vital to doing your job. Your peers, boss, subordinates, and even enemies, can and should be in your network of allies. How do you build alliances? It's accomplished by cultivating relationships based on mutual benefit and interest. Information and favors are traded on a quid pro quo basis. Your peers, subordinates, and boss have different needs but they share some goals with you. Goals are the common denominator. Consider the following ways to cultivate your network of allies: Be a reliable news source; offer feedback; be congenial; share expertise; consult; strive to be a role model; don't demand credit; don't wait for recognition; articulate your needs; share a hot idea; save face for someone; and connect people who can help each other. |
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