The Ethics Column for BBC Capital recently approached me about a dilemma many small business owners face: what do you do when the hours you have spent on a project run over the estimated time you promised the client? Do you pad hours? No. Swallow the loss? Hopefully not. Ideally, you have cultivated a relationship with the client that allows you to carve out a good solution together.
The question got me thinking about the work I do with Employees. Too often, employment relationships start with unclear expectations on Day One. This may work for a while, but eventually, it leads Employees and HR Departments to feel disappointed with each other. Lack of clarity leads too many employees to feel unmotivated and disengaged at work. They end up resenting that they did not receive the promotion, bonus, or raise they were looking for. HR Managers, on the other hand, may avoid communication, all in the hope that the employee is “all set.”
I encourage my clients to have a strategy about their careers and to discuss it with their boss and H.R. manger. They should know what to demonstrate to get the next promotion and the one after that. And, they should know that their management is clear about what they are wanting.
Just keeping your head down and doing your work can end up feeling like running over and having to absorb the loss. One of my favorite resources on this topic is “Expect to Win” by Carla Harris.