How to Talk to Your Team One-on-One to Get Work Done

Hello and welcome. Today I just want to make a brief note to discuss something that I find quite troubling in the Nigerian business scene. You know, you have business owners, you have sales managers, you have founders, you have entrepreneurs, you have CE OS talking to members of their team and trying to do lots of management by WhatsApp. Now, I understand the temptation that you know WhatsApp is there, it's already available.

So if there's a problem, you just file off a quick message what the problem is. In doing that, people are not using WhatsApp as effectively as it should be. Well, First off, WhatsApp is a messaging tool, not a management tool. I repeat, WhatsApp is a messaging tool, not a management tool. If you're going to manage people as a founder, as a business owner, as a CEO, or as a whatever, your primary skill is going to be in being able to have difficult conversations.

And the more direct you can have those conversations, the better. If you're going to use tools like WhatsApp in a general messaging platform. And let's say a project is behind and you just send a message blasting everybody saying so, so, so, so project is behind. Why is all this thing happening? You people, we need to move now. We need to move now. What you need to understand as a business owner and as the CEO, as the founder is this, you blast that message out to the WhatsApp group.

You have the emotional satisfaction that you have put out a message and that everybody should know how disappointed you are. But this is what really happens on ground because people are used to seeing you rant on WhatsApp, the truth of messages. Your sales team, they're not reading that message. They have other priorities on their mind right now. And quite frankly, they can't be bothered about whether today or guy is venting or tomorrow Madam is having a fit.

You know they can't be bothered, but you feel as if you put that message out into the group. What's happening? We're behind our social so and so project. This is irresponsible. If you don't want to work, you all should resign and leave the company. There's only people who are serious that should be here. So you put all that rubbish out into the WhatsApp group and you think you're making progress, but meanwhile nothing they happen.

So as a manager or as a business owner, as a founder, as a CEO, as the executive, as the whatever, this is what you need to do. If a project is behind, call the person that you think is responsible. Or if you're going to send a WhatsApp message, slide into the DM of the person in WhatsApp and send a message directly to the person who you think is responsible and call out whatever you think the insufficiencies are in the message.

Then have a very particular discussion about what you need to do to bring the project back on track. Then in that private message, direct message, I agree on what the next steps are and what you're going to do to hold that person accountable. So I don't prefer you do all this over WhatsApp, but if you must do this over WhatsApp, this is the way. Rather than taking a WhatsApp tool or another general messaging tool like what's it called?

Rocket? Is it Rocket Cast this messaging thing. So whether using Rocket, is it Rocket Chat or WhatsApp or Telegram or some group e-mail or something like that and you just start ranting into the chat. We're behind on so, so, so and so project what is going on? We need action, please. We need closes this week. We need movement. We need movement time is going no reach out to somebody in particular who's responsible for something.

Then have the difficult conversation about why the project is not moving. Both of you agree collectively on what it is that people are going to do next. Then come up with measures for how you're going to hold that person accountable. That is what you're supposed to do. So this is what I would recommend, particularly if you're a business owner, founder, sales team, you know, sales leader, chief marketing officer, chief revenue officer,

you know, whatever your title is, listening to this podcast right now, this is what I'm going to recommend. If you notice that you are behind on XYZ project, instead of ranting into the group, pick up the phone or walk into the office. If you overwork physically in the same space, walk into the office and have this conversation face to face. This is about making progress and achieving results. It is not about having the emotional satisfaction or firing off angry messages into the group.

So walk over to the office and he said, Culli, how you there? Culli will say, I, Sir, I did. Your boys are loyal. You say, Culli, I beg, there's something I want to discuss with you. Then Culli will say, ah, boss, I beg, oh, there's no problem. And you will now say, of course, now problem D, we've been discussing this thing for the last four weeks. I thought you're responsible for so, so, so and so. But I'm not seeing any movement waiting to happen.

What's going on then Kule will now respond for you. People having a back and forth. You will now be able to know what the issues are. If is that Kule is lacking, you'll be able to chat Kule or scold him directly in a way that allows him not to avoid responsibility for his own roles. Because if you put this angry message on WhatsApp, Kule can't ignore the WhatsApp message. And I have told you, I am a sales coach and a business development consultant.

I work with boys on the ground, boys and girls on the ground, The boys and girls on the ground, they feel like they have other priorities. So if Olga, the perambulator anyhow, on the WhatsApp group, they will ignore the message and go about that what they think is important for the day. You or guy will feel as if you've done something, you've done nothing. Everybody ignore that message. Every frigging person in your team, ignore that message.

You will now feel as if you've done something to get this thing back on track. Go into the office and have this conversation. Clearly then, if it is because rules were not clear, things are not properly assigned, things like that. Have that conversation with Coolie Coolie, This is what we're going to do to bring this thing back on track. I expect you to do XYZ and ABC before Friday 14th of October, blah blah, blah, blah blah, so we can move this thing on track.

Cool. You say yes Sir. You say hey cool. It's not a matter of yes, Sir, we're talking now. You're not writing anything down. Write this thing down or put this thing in your diary. Do it now. Let me see it then. Both of you now agree. OK, cool. Since I expect this action to be taken before October 14th, blah blah blah, blah, blah. I'm expecting a progress report on October 10th to see how ready we are for the 14th and if all goes well on the 14th, I want us to have a general meeting with so, so, so and so team on October 18th so that we can review next steps.

Are we clear, Cooley? Cooley would say yes, Sir. Again, you stress. Cool. This one will be yes Sir. Yes, Sir. You're not writing anything down. Put this thing down in the diary, Put this thing down in Google Calendar, blah, blah, blah. Cooley, I'm holding you responsible. Are we good to say? Yes, Sir. No problem. So. And as you're leading, as you're leaving, you know, small jokes they couldn't know. They tell me your boys are lawyer.

Meanwhile, you know, they work. You know they work. Cool. I beg more now. Shake body more. You should be moving. Be moving. You know, Then you laugh about it and everything. Then you leave. That is a much more productive way to handle these sorts of things. Business owners, sales managers, Chief revenue officer. Chief financial officer. Chief. This officer, chief executive Officer, all of you who are trying to do management by WhatsApp, stop it.

I don't know where this habit, how this habit has entered Nigeria, but honestly speaking, it's ineffective, It's not working and the only person who is satisfied by management by WhatsApp is you, the old guy who is sending this message. You're the only person who is achieving the emotional release. Trust me, all your boys and girls, they are ignoring that message. They say OK, you don't start again. You don't start again.

You never see him. Except I beg. I beg. I have nothing else to do. I'm chasing Chief, this person. I'm chasing Madame, blah, blah, blah and making their rants, making their rant. They're ignoring you. It's not working. Now, if the face to face thing is not possible, pick up the phone and the process is the same. Cami, good morning. How are you doing? I'm very well. Sir. Are you coming into the office today or? No, Sir, today is the day that I

work from home. OK, No problem. I have some important things that I want to discuss with you. Do you have a moment to talk now? Oh, say yes Sir, I'm free. OK, good. Cammy, I need updates on XYZ project. What is going on? The last time we spoke, I had assumed that we would have done this dot dot dot dot Cammy. How come this thing has not been done? Then you keep quiet and you hear what Cammy has to say. You will have the conversation.

It is possible that Cammy has been slacking off. No problem. You will now give Cami clear directions on what it is that needs to be done next, when you want the thing done by and you both agree on what the timelines or the yardsticks, the milestones, the things you will need to hit by certain times as you're talking, you will tell Cami, Cami, I hope you're noting these things down. And in fact, when we're done, I'm sending you an e-mail with a list of all these dates so that you know, we can I can hold you to it.

Then sometimes it will be possible that the reason why action was not taken was because Kemi thought it was somebody else's responsibility. You will now say, oh, no, Kemi, yes, it should be coolest responsibility. But Kemi, you are the head of the team. So ultimately, I'm holding you responsible for all this. And this is what we're going to do to get this project back on schedule. You will have the conversation over the phone directly with her in a manner that is respectful,

assertive and does not allow her to evade responsibility. Because if you go and blast all these thing in the WhatsApp group, somebody will just say come in or get on the OR get on the complaint again, came and say what is it now? So you know or Ghana, you know as it will be. Then can we open the message, maybe see the first two or three lines? Should we close it and go and do other things else other things? You will feel as if I have done something meanwhile you have done nothing.

Everybody is ignoring you in the WhatsApp chat, in the group chat, in the Rocket chat, in the Telegram chat, in the group. In fact, is even worse. If his group e-mail, if at least if his chat, at least people see the first two or three lines. If his group e-mail, forget it. Nobody even clicked on that e-mail. Nobody. We think we'll just sit down there for days now, get buried by other things. Business owners, sales managers,

CEO, OGA found founder, team lead. Madam CMO, you should stop this bad habit. It's part of your job to learn how to have difficult conversations. Difficult conversations are had in a respectful manner, are had in an assertive manner. And you have these conversations one-on-one. You go and meet the person direct. Don't evade nothing. That is why you're the ogre. That is why you are the boss. That is why you are the senior.

Go direct. Why you they fear why you are afraid. Go and have a conversation with somebody instead of blasting all kinds of messages into the water group. See, sorry that venting about this in this morning. It's just that, you know, like I said, you know, work with boys and girls on the field. And I've just noticed that it's it's a trend I'm noticing. I'm an outsider. I'm a consultant. No problem. You will have given me access to the inner platforms, to the inner chatting to the inner every, every.

And yes, they'll be challenges with projects, but I've noticed that orgasm nowadays they have they prefer the the comfort or do whatever. I'm just ranting in these messages instead of calling somebody who's your direct report, have a very direct and frank conversation before WhatsApp, before group office e-mail chats and everything existed at least in Nigeria. If it was a problem, what would your guy do? Your guy would have sent the secretary to go and say go and call Mr. Tavishima, tell him to come and see me in the office and the conversation would have been had.

Or you would have issued a query and call a panel or, But either we sure something would have been done objectively in real life in a manner that is direct and assertive in a manner that the person who is concerned cannot evade responsibility and clear consequences or clear course of action for next time would have been agreed upon. And I'm sorry that I've been writing for 30 minutes, but I'm just trying to prove a point that if you've been guilty of this sort of behavior, stop it.

It's not effective. It's not helping you move your business forward at all. It's giving you emotional closure that you blasted people, but honestly, it's not moving your business forward. Go and learn. Learn how to start having these difficult conversations. Learn how to start having assertive, direct conversations with your subordinates, with your people who work under you, with your peers, with your colleagues. Learn how to have these direct conversations.

Venting into the group e-mail, venting into the group Telegram, venting into the group WhatsApp is not doing anything to move your business forward. Believe me, it is not doing absolutely anything. I'm not a lecturer, I'm not an academic. I'm out in the field and for people, OK, well, you have not had me to come and work in your company, obviously, But for other people who have hired me, I'm seeing the effects live. I'm on the ground, I'm seeing you rant and I'm watching your team ignore your ranting.

Worst of all, I am the one who is now having to go in to start having these frank conversations with people to say how far with this, how far with this? The problem is I'm just a consultant. Eventually my money will expire. You pay me for one month and one more. Don't reach if you don't learn how to do this thing yourself. As a business owner, when I leave, what will happen? Back to square one for whatever. Sorry. Now for how do you say it again?

One step forward, 2 step back. So please mowing and land, if you do bring me into your company, I'll do my best to make sure that you orga because it's not just the boys and the girls who need training. Even you Orga founder but I'm CMO but I'm Chief revenue officer even you self use on training. I'll do my best to tell you that look you know bro or look Madam, I think what you do on WhatsApp, you know, you know pure pick up the phone call.

So so and so and this is the reason why. But please management by WhatsApp, I beg let us stop it. Nigerian business owners, Nigerian managers, I don't know where this culture came from, but let's stop this thing. Management by WhatsApp is not helping your business, is not helping your carrier. It's not doing, it's not, it's not moving the needle forward. So that's it. If you'd love to connect with me, call me, send me a text message or WhatsApp message on 08064662140.

If you want me to audit your sales processes or look at any of your business process processes, just call me, send me a text message or WhatsApp message on 0806466 2140. If you'd like to be a part of my WhatsApp channel, maybe because you're shy, you just don't want to talk, you want to be receiving updates, it's not a problem. Just get in touch with me on the same number and I'll hook you up. So thank you very much for your time and attention.

I'll catch you all some other time.