I was listening to a discussion going on today on a conference and our manager asked everyone in the team to tell well ahead in case they have a downtime (no work.)
I remembered hearing similar directives earlier also to tell a little ahead in case we want to send something for review or in case we have messed up something.
This thought came into my mind that “noone like surprises at work.” This maybe one of the mantras to be successful at work – that whether you have a good news or bad news coming, it is better to make everyone aware much beforehand.
Then I classified news based on above analysis in four categories:-
1. Good news without surprise : You will be praised.
2. Good news with surprise : You will be praised. (i dont think it’ll make much difference.)
3. Bad news without surprise : There are good chances that you’ll hear great lectures from everyone before the news, during the news and years after the news. (but processe will be blamed for the error and everyone will revisit and redesign processes.)
4. Bad news with surprise : good chances that you’ll be fired. (or at least a step closer.)