Communicate with new GM of company

By Ken Lloyd, Ph.D.

Q Our company recently hired a new general manager who is unfriendly, dictatorial, and noncommunicative. He's already fired three people, and we hear that he'll be replacing them with people from his former company. Many of us are upset and wondering what to do.

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A If your company is in crisis and this new GM has been hired to save a sinking ship, his style may be inappropriate. When time pressure is great and major resources are at risk, some managers resort to a more firm, decisive, and unilateral style. However, there is still a need for communication with employees - especially if a manager wants them to support him and maintain their commitment and productivity.

Since this new manager has not taken the time to meet with you, you and your coworkers should ask to meet with him. The objective would be to provide him with information about your roles, responsibilities and goals, and for him to share his thoughts and vision.

The reality is that if senior management disapproved of his actions, they would have already dealt with him. Looking down the road, he may revert to a more balanced leadership style. However, maybe this is as good as it gets. If so, you will need to decide if it is a good fit for you.

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Q I am preparing a new resume, which will

include several jobs that lasted two years or less. I have heard that a resume for someone like me will look better if jobs are listed simply by year, not designating the month. What do you think of this strategy?

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A This technique is called "covering," and is designed to disguise the length of a short-term job. For example, if you worked from December 2004 to January 2006, you essentially worked a year. However, by listing only the years - 2004-2006 - that could be interpreted as a three-year job.

Most employers are not going to eliminate your resume because you did not include the months of employment. However, if you're called in for an interview, you'll likely be asked about specific dates of employment and what you were doing between jobs.

One way to help you determine whether to include months is to look at the kinds of positions that you seek. If you are seeking an accounting or research position, where attention to detail is vital, it is probably a good idea to include the months.

As you are creating your resume, remember that it is most important to include key words for the responsibilities, skills and education that match the specific qualifications for the job you are seeking.

Ken Lloyd, Ph.D., is an Encino-based management consultant, coach, and author who specializes in organizational behavior. His newest book is "Performance Appraisals and Phrases for Dummies."

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