Looking for some guidance

Anonymous

March 7,2024 at 3:41AM UTC

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Looking for some guidance

Maybe I’m being too hard on myself; we all make mistakes. I’m a relatively new leader within my company. We’re looking to make some changes in one of our departments, but nothing has been decided. We have a PRN employee who floats between our departments. When she asked me about her schedule for next month, I said there might be some changes coming. I honestly don’t remember how detailed I got about the possible changes. And I honestly don’t remember if I said anything to anyone else. I’ve literally be racking my brain trying to figure out what I might have said. I found out today that there’s apparently some rumors going around about these changes. Now I’m worried about how badly I screwed up. Did I say too much? I know I’m still learning and I prefer transparency from my leaders. But these rumors are bad enough that my manager asked me today what I said and I honestly couldn’t recall what I said and to whom. I guess I’m just needing to get my feelings out there. And I’m wondering to what level other leaders are transparent with their staff about possible changes, especially if it could affect their job (no one is losing their job or changing hours; it would be a change of responsibility).

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AnonymousMarch 7,2024 at 3:53AM UTC
I never feel comfortable alluding to possible changes.
Everyone will know soon enough is I how look at it. Hinting to possible changes only stresses everyone and creares gossip and fear. I have found that if you don't have all the facts then you are not helping by planting the seeds.
AnonymousMarch 7,2024 at 4:24AM UTC
That sounds like a generic statement to me. Or someone is trying to throw you under the bus may be.
AnonymousMarch 7,2024 at 4:41PM UTC
If you really haven't made the schedule or plans for the future, it is best to simply say "we don't have things planned yet," or something like that. This comes from experience, and alluding to any changes coming will only start a very toxic rumor mill. Your best option is to try to talk to her again and ask her if she has anything you need to work around (for example, is she planning a vacation or have a major event like a wedding coming up.) Then let her know that you are willing to work with her and keep that in mind when you set up the schedule. For future reference, answer the question with another, like, "why do you need to know, because I don't have things planned out that far?"
AnonymousMarch 7,2024 at 7:13PM UTC
It doesn't matter what other leaders do, you do you! Be the transparent open leader that you want to be and gather together the folks who might have been chatting about this rumor. Let them know your goal is to be open and to communicate freely without repercussions. Then ask them what their concerns are about change and find out ahead of making any changes so that you can course correct should you be at risk of losing good people. Also perhaps take that one person aside and tell them that in future if you make a comment to them that you prefer if there is confusion that they come to you first before stirring the pot with others to cause frenzy. Tell your manager that you are not a tape recorder and cannot recall any specificity about change other than to say changes may happen. Going forward perhaps keep notes of those conversations for your reference, perhaps on a spreadsheet or calendar. Change is not easy for most people especially in work situations because it can create fear and stress. Consider yourself lucky that your manager asked you about it and did not react to this in a negative way. Breathe, it's not the worst thing you are dealing with, it can be fixed with more open conversations. You got this!