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Insubordination Who's In Charge? Communication

Whenever I ask a certain employee how he is doing on the work I have given to him, he responds with, “Don’t worry.” It is not as if I am worried. It’s just that I want an update on his work, and I’m not getting one. What is the best way to handle this?



Some of the most worrisome words from an employee can be, “Don’t worry.” When an employee uses this phrase, he or she is the one who has introduced the notion of worrying in the first place.

However, this phrase is not an automatic red flag. There are many managers who have worked with certain employees for years, and the phrase is taken to mean that everything is on schedule and will be done properly, just like in the past.

There is a history between these individuals that has reduced the need for more extensive communication between these individuals, unless the manager wants more data, and that is a key point in your situation. In the first place, you apparently lack this type of history with your employee. Secondly, no matter what the history may be, when you persist and ask for specific information, a response of “Don’t worry” is unacceptable. The amount of information to be provided by your employee is determined by you, not by your employee.

You need to be clear and direct in telling this employee that you want complete information regarding this project. His reaction is going to tell you a great deal not only about the status of this project, but the status of this employee as well.



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