Guys…how often have you had to exert your authority in the business place?
Why did you need to?
How did you do it?
How was your “flexing” received?
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
I always say ‘Sun’s out! Guns out! Brrrrraaaapppp!’ and so I don’t limit my flexing to the boardroom. I flex my muscles every chance I get; the malls, the parks, petrol stations, parking lots, generally around the neighbourhood and what not. My flexing has always been well received, I’ve experienced playful touching to full on fondling (My biceps ofcourse) 
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
On a serious note its happened a few times. Its generally been well received because of the nature of my work, its provided dividends to those getting a right blasting from me. Still, no one likes their boss (It does happen but its rare). Incidents would be negotiations and account acquisitions mostly.
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
Never been in one. I'll let you know when I get there :p
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
On a serious note its happened a few times. Its generally been well received because of the nature of my work, its provided dividends to those getting a right blasting from me. Still, no one likes their boss (It does happen but its rare). Incidents would be negotiations and account acquisitions mostly.
excellent input....thanks.
can you be a bit more specific and perhaps quote an example with circumstances, what you did and what sort of reply you received?
the purpose of this thread is to share wisdom and knowledge so case studies and scenarios will go a long way to help.
thanks again!
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
First of all i love my boss, she is an hottie.
Secondly i think it's quite different to handle female boss then other kind.
So if i ever have complains which i do, i just directly contact the in-charge of whatever the dept. they belong, nearly all the times it was taken care of within reasonable time.
In the meetings well we have a very causal system here, we follow scrum or scrumy management style - so it becomes pretty frank to criticize decisions or explaining yourself in detail.
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
Oh definitely a useful topic :k:
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We were dealing with a couple of B2B contracts (IT hardware/software, networking and post-sales solutions) and I thought a couple of my new account managers showed their cards to early because it was a high value deal (We had a permissible spread of 50p to 80p ~ 80c to 1.30USD). Now they jumped to the base concession without entering negotiations and as well know, you never do that. If you’re selling anything at all, you should set the value. If you’re buying anything, you should set a value. Statistically, the deal closes closest to the first proposed value. Anyway, I had to get them lot in a conference room and give them a shouting and then help them out with the actual negotiations. One of them did get upset and I had to give them a play by play tutorial on negotiation as in we tried different scenarios and objects and counters to the values. In the end, they were happy they got the pennies they were willing to give away.
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We were having a meeting about bonuses and their relation to sales quality (Measure of primary sales and additional attachment sales). I mean basic 1% then 5% then 10% depending on how much they made and certain members objected to the targets and I kinda had a few harsh words with them about their performance and their bonus expectations, whether it was right of them to think they were close to those figures and would get that extra money
Anyway, a couple of weeks of constant being in their face, we saw some results. Although I did give them extra tutorials to help achieve figures and sure enough I did hear I was being unfair. Luckily we’re talking about 2 people here so it wasn’t all bad. The rest of the group were appreciative.
I think my examples are too specific 
And I think I’m talking more about negotiations than ‘muscle flexing’ but you get the idea. Sometimes you gotta be harsh in a professional environment but then again not without reason. I was the mean arsehole who made sure their got big fat dividend cheques at the end of each quarter. I mean the point is you have to be a twat sometimes but within limits and for a purpose. Never be unfair to others when they don’t deserve it.
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
Well Muzna in answer to your question, my current line of work is very hierachical but I am very specialised and dont have to attend the meetings much… my works business as it were is very serious and if there is a meeting it’s ussually becuase someone has blundered.
My role is pretty much at the front line, I dont work behind a desk often most of the job is footpading and driving. It’s damned tough but I do have authority and a good deal of experience which is highly specialised.
I dont flex muscle at all… I am the sort of fellow everyone comes to hear about… I rose from the gutter as it were so I know what the average Joe and the Top Brass are up to… 
My colleagues and I have a mutual respect for each other and we are “the Elite” when the work gets real tough they call us in… ussually to clean up the mess others have made.
I am the sort of person that wont flex a muscle or beat about the place and make demands… My colleauges know what to expect and they know thier duty as I know mine. We are honoured to serve each other and the community.
However there have been times when I have had to deal with “external threats” and then I am most cold and ruthless… not so much flexing muscles… when you cross the line which some idiots do… we have to show them we are serious so it’s time to speak up for ourselves.
The Police in Britian have always had a tough time and it only gets tougher each year it seems… sometimes it’s the Police chiefs own incompetence but the British Police has some of the best men in the world among it’s ranks and with elite units we know our value.
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
Guys....how often have you had to exert your authority in the business place? Every day as I am the boss and I solely make decisions
Why did you need to? I say it and it is done
How did you do it? Usually by email or by phone but sometimes during board meetings face to face
How was your "flexing" received? Well they just accept it or they're out of the job
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
^ Talk about bossy...
I like to think I am generous and well loved. :)
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
^ Talk about bossy...
I like to think I am generous and well loved. :)
It's just business. During non working hours I am the nicest guy ever.
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
Well almost every week - just try to understand the misery of a program manager - who has to go through the unrealistic Project plans and half cooked weekly status reports on every weekend for compiling his executive weekly status report :( ...
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
i work in a very friendly environment. my boss is like my God Mother, my mentor! i work independently with some time to time consultation with my boss. i'm very happy the way my work environment is :)
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
Thats good then.
My Boss is nicknamed Mr Cashbox…
He’s newly appointed and since he came along the moneys everywhere, new kit which is actually very good and we have been asking for months. New Offices and furniture, even though as front liners we dont get to see much desks and chairs… Best bit is a new canteen and new cars, or at least upgraded modifications like cammeras and radios. Make me wonder why I had to accept a freeze on the 3% increase of my salary… such is the state of those who serve the public.
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
Great :k:
Allah bless everyone with a nice boss or at least a good friend in the ranks so you can work mischief if they work mischief on you…
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
thank you…it never happens at my place of work lolz
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
It depends on the situation and what I'm trying to accomplish. If I want the client to do something and they have discretion in the matter, it's a delicate negotiation and I have to sell my proposition to them based on how it's going to benefit them.
If on the other hand, what I want them to do is a must, with little room for them to decline, I still try the soft-sell approach initially, by explaining the risk/reward, with the emphasis on the reward. If they're not inclined to accept my recommendation (okay, let's call it what it is - my decision), I do use the risk as a hammer and will escalate the matter as needed. Keep in mind, the escalation process may involve senior to senior dialogue, at which point I will be in the room to explain the situation, but it's up to my one or two-up manager to make it a reality with her/his counterpart.
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
I haven’t had much authority over people at workplace at this point in my life apart from the short duration of my internship. I was with the QA/QC and a part of my job was to audit different departments and ask them to sort things out which wasn’t always easy. Quite a nerve-racking experience for me too, to be honest. I wasn’t expecting to be given so much responsibility and authority considering I was just a noob, just another student. But when they trusted me with it, I tried to live up to their expectations which involved forgetting about your status in the company, your lack of experience etc and developing an affirmative attitude to get people to… just do it!
As an example, some MTs (manufacturing technicians) were throwing a fit over having to change into new overalls every time they enter the “clean room” (where the manufactured drugs are offloaded into drums for shipping). According to them, it was okay for them to exit the clean room, walk around the place and then go back in the clean room wearing the same overalls. When I talked to them about contamination, I was told to “get real”. I gave them a little reality check on what the FDA and other external auditors have to say about this issue, shut down the clean room and then arranged a meeting between them and the Head of QA/QC, explained the situation to her and she said to them “You lot have been working here for 20+ years, you really shouldn’t need an undergrad to explain the regulations to you.” 
So that sorted that out. And it wasn’t like we hated each other after that. These arguments happen all the time at workplaces and we got along just fine after that.
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
Haven't had a job where I had authority yet. :(
One day iA
Re: Flexing Your Muscles in the Boardroom
iA ? instant artist ?
amazing that you could type a complete sentence but not not explain iA