When employees don't feel heard

Earlier today a couple of my operators made a mistake during a major audit. The error involved inserting a particular problem at a specified severity level into a simulator to observe the team's approach toward the problem. Unfortunately, it was improperly briefed and was not caught by other people in attendance at the pre-drill brief. Later, while running the drill, both operators, verifying the same sheet of paper, improperly inserted the anomaly. The resulting error caused a great deal of frustration and a severe chastening by the Operations Manager.

I was frustrated that we could have done such a foolish thing. In effect we had mixed up different sides of the plant. But I was then even more frustrated that it hadn't been caught by the other three supervisors present at the brief--a second problem.

This second problem did not catch the attention of the Operations Manager or the Plant Master Chief, who is ultimately responsible for all enlisted personnel at the plant. Instead, I was chastened for my operators' inability to do a simple task during this audit and was not even given the opportunity to explain myself. I was cut off again and again.

So I have spent a good part of the day frustrated by these events. And I feel foolish. That is a lot of wasted time. Should I expect the Operations Manager to hear me through? Yes. Should I be offended if he doesn't? Absolutely not. Should I feel the necessity to vindicate my operators? Perhaps, but not at the expense of my own well-being. If he chooses not to listen, this is of no consequence to me.

I suppose the other thing that I learned from this event is how important it is that I compose myself before interacting with my subordinates. I went back to my office soon after speaking with the Operations Manager and the Plant Manager Chief. Everyone wanted to know what had been said. In the moment, I allowed myself to complain just a little about the meeting. I hadn't had time to really digest the conversation. This made me venerable to thoughts and words that shouldn't have been spoken in the moment.