Hello HRCleanUp,
I hope all is well with you! I am having an interesting issue at work and I was wondering if you had any advice. Our VP of Strategy came to me today because he is having an issue with his Marketing Associates (20-somethings) and his Marketing Director (65). The Director of Marketing purchased a number of blue cardigan sweaters with our company logo on them for all the female Marketing employees to wear at trade shows. Now, you would think this would not be that bad...but the sweater is HUGE. An extra small was way, way too big on me...and Im not tiny! Needless to say the associates were not happy about this and complained to the VP about having to wear "old woman clothes". There is a trade show next week and the VP asked my advice on communicating the views of the associates to the director, in a "PC" fashion. I really could not think of anything that was particularly helpful and non-offensive to the director! I looked on numerous websites and there is a lot of information about millenials vs babyboomers, but not advice on how to deal with a situation like this. Id like to be able to go back to the VP and give him something that is useful. Do you have any ideas? I know you are probably laughing at this point, I was laughing about it too, but need to come up with some type of solution. If you have any thoughts on this, I would greatly appreciate it!!
HRCleanUp Responds,
The VP made a huge mistake when he didn't bother to include his 20-somethings in the decision making. I don't blame them one bit for not wanting to wear a sack sweater. What if he told them to go with the sweaters for this next trade show. Then, when they get back, he could task them with finding a replacement. If they pick it, they have to wear it. The costumes at a trade show really are important...how the company shows itself makes a difference. Since they will all be at the trade show, they can do some initial research about what might work better. On their breaks, they can cruise the trade show floor and report back ideas and suggestions and have fun as a team finding something new. The VP can be a part of the process and have with the stealth research too.
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