Keeping Management Off Your Back
I got another email today from someone asking me how to keep management off their back. This is an age old problem at UPS.
Management is like the bully in the school yard. How do you keep from drawing his attention? The answer is simple. Do what he wants. Then he looks at someone else to harass.
Look at this video. This guy is makng his numbers, he's going to look good on paper and he thinks he's doing what management wants since management is all about numbers. But if management can identify the driver in this video, they'll fire him. Is he doing what management wants? Will the bully harass this guy?
Sometimes it's hard to find the balance between using the methods and making your numbers. Most drivers believe that hitting the numbers will keep them out of the spotlight and the methods don't matter as long as you stay out of the spotligtht. NOT. The methods are everything. The numbers are not your problem, no matter how much management tries to make you think they are your problem.
Hitting the numbers and not using the methods will get you fired. Using the methods and not hitting the nmbers will not get you fired. How tough is it to figure out which is the right path for you?
Management is like the bully in the school yard. How do you keep from drawing his attention? The answer is simple. Do what he wants. Then he looks at someone else to harass.
Look at this video. This guy is makng his numbers, he's going to look good on paper and he thinks he's doing what management wants since management is all about numbers. But if management can identify the driver in this video, they'll fire him. Is he doing what management wants? Will the bully harass this guy?
Sometimes it's hard to find the balance between using the methods and making your numbers. Most drivers believe that hitting the numbers will keep them out of the spotlight and the methods don't matter as long as you stay out of the spotligtht. NOT. The methods are everything. The numbers are not your problem, no matter how much management tries to make you think they are your problem.
Hitting the numbers and not using the methods will get you fired. Using the methods and not hitting the nmbers will not get you fired. How tough is it to figure out which is the right path for you?
That is an amazing video. Where do you get these crazy movies from? I cannot imagine doing something like that. I agree with your analogy on the numbers. If you are making the methods, the numbers will follow behind the desired mark, but getting fired for hurrying and having an accident is far worse than being perfect in the methods department and being way behind in the numbers. In the center I used to work in, our time studies were so old and out of sych that management knew we were still ok at 1.5 hr over, but when it went to 2.0 hr over, they hilighted the name on the big board and had words with the driver. Imagine being so aware of the dysfunction in the numbers that 1.5 hours over is ok! I always fell under the 2.0 hours over, but rarely under 1.0 hours over. Do the methods above all other things. Survival is imperative.
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I knew their numbers were arbitrary years ago. I had a supervisor get on me after a snow storm. He commented, "Bob I can take three hours over, but you're killing me with four!" I immediatly wrote that down and told him I would try to stay at three. The name of the game is consistancy, not a number goal. Do your job safely and by the methods and "lucky for you" you'll be there forever and ever.
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That is bad, I would never even dream about doing something like that. Notice the couple in the left had corner, imagine what they thought as well. I also noticed not only was that goof ball not wearing his seatbelt, he is parking on the wrong side of the street, big no no. Car was still rolling when he jumped out. Telematics is going to catch this real quick. Those of us that follow the methods, when Telematics goes online won't have a problem "fine tuning" so to speak their methods. Those driver's like the one above are going to really struggle. As well as those that "always" leave their bulk head open.
The only thing I had to work on is seatbelt on and off "before wheels roll at all". Not talking about rolling next door, just that initial startup. I think this is where a lot of us will need to work, even on car sup's have admitted this is where they will get dinged themselves. My opinion is, if your doing what you should be you have nothing to worry about.
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