Kiss...Kick...Kiss

One time my boss called me to his office for a short meeting. He first then approach me with a smile and said, “Good morning, how is your day?” With a smile in my face I said, “Im getting better and better, sir!” He smiled back at me and had small conversations until we get down into business.  He said to me “Your work is quite impressive. I like your design. It looks very attractive.” I feel I’m in a cloud nine at that very moment. “My boss loves my designs.” I said to myself. But before I could ever reply he then said to me with a different tone of his voice “But some improvement on it. You must change this and that. Replace the color, change the motif, and add some life into it. Etc. etc. and etc.  The cloud nine is gone. There is a big drop of water falling in my head like what the cartoon character does. “I thought he said he loves my design. It is impressive and attractive. How come he wants to change this and that.” I said to myself. Before we end our short meeting he then again said to me “Overall your design is great. I know I can count on you. Keep it up.” Two words came out of my mouth, “Noted, sir.”

As I approach my table, I kept on asking myself what happen? Is the world go upside down? Is end of the world coming? He first praises me and then criticizes me and then praises me again. What’s up with that? After long hours of soul searching and looking for answers, I encounter a site explaining a very interesting method of criticizing your people.

It state: “Any time you have to criticize the action of an employee, use the kiss, kick kiss formula. Start of by praising what you do like of them followed by the criticism (and how they could change for the better) and end with praise again. “

A light bulb of Thomas Edison appears on my head. This method is applied to me.  A method that is meant to be good but if not properly used it will get back fire to the user. It didn’t cushion the criticism I get from my boss. It worsens and gave me more confusion of what is happening. He could just said directly that he didn’t like my design and there are rooms for improvement rather than saying that it is good but there are room for improvements but overall he likes my design which is way much better and easier to grab. Or maybe my boss didn’t really use it properly.

That’s why every time my boss uses his kiss, kick and kiss method I’m ready. I can’t be fooled again with the first kiss because I know there is a big flying kick coming.

Be prepare, who knows maybe one of your boss will apply it to you as well.