GREAT Management Revealed!

Why would you want to be a great manager? Great management promotes high morale, longevity, efficiency, and gives you an edge for promotion. Poor management creates confusion and discontent. Which would you rather be responsible for? Make yourself a great manager or leader by making these strategies part of your methods every day.

Stay calm. Blow your stack when things don't go your way, then nobody will want to work with you or for you. Stay calm under pressure, you will be seen as capable. Calm helps you to think clearly, and keeps others around you calm as well. This helps them to think clearly, too. This does not negate the need to move fast and act with intensity when the pressure is on. It is possible to be calm and move fast at the same time.

Lead by example. Are you prepared to do whatever you ask of your team? You'd better be, and they need to know it. Help your people with their work sometimes, or do the same work that they do; even if it means getting your hands dirty. Your people will appreciate it. This sends the message that you know they work hard, and that you are willing to keep from adding to their already-full plates, even if it means you are doing some of the work. Just remember that you will need to balance any hands-on work against your primary management duties. Perform too much hands-on work yourself, and your management duties may suffer. Be able to find that balance.

Guide your people; and work for them, too. Support their efforts in a tangible manner. If they need something, get it for them. Be an advocate for them. Have you heard of servant-leadership? Practice it, and your people will move mountains for you and they will be happy to do it.

Be firm but fair, and be consistent about it. Firmness shows strength on your part, and keeps your people accountable for their actions. Fairness shows sensitivity to human issues. Think human issues have no place at work? Then just fire all your people and replace them with robots. Ignore human needs and morale goes down the tubes, turnover goes out the roof. Inconsistency breeds discontent, and gives the impression that you have "favorites."

Be professional. This cannot be more critical. Never, ever waver in showing the highest degree of professionalism. If you are going to waver in some aspect of management or leadership, don't let it be this one. Always keep yourself in a position to lead, guide, and serve your people; never in a position to ridicule them or to promote a hostile environment against them.

Have an open-door policy. Be available for your people. Listen when they talk. This helps them know you care. Of course, you will want to understand the difference between whining and valid concerns, and be able to tactfully and firmly discourage whining.

Listen to your people and trust them as much as possible. Know when to adapt to their concerns and know when to have them adapt to you.

Do you manage other managers? Use them to distribute your instructions. Don't jump the chain of command by giving orders directly to their employees. Jumping chain of command frustrates your managers and may confuse your people.

Forget about vanity and ego. There is no time or place for it in good management. If you make a mistake, admit it; and admit it with confidence. Yes, this is possible. This doesn't weaken you; it strengthens you in many ways. Do you want to be weakened in the eyes of your people? Just make a visible mistake on something and blame it on someone else, or be too proud to admit it. Your staff will see this and think less of you for it. Own up to your mistakes, and your staff will respect you tremendously. Just don't make too many mistakes, or you could be seen as technically non-proficient. Has someone on your staff made a mistake or performed to a less-than-acceptable standard? Don't be too quick to throw out a reprimand. Make sure you have set clear standards of performance and ensured proper training took place before you write someone up. Substandard performance could be your fault if you provided inadequate training.

Be accountable. Management comes with the burden of accountability. Be strong enough to take it. Take responsibility for everything that happens under your command, even if it's something bad. This will endow you with tremendous strength and courage. It can also diffuse potentially tense situations. Likewise, be aware of whom you are accountable to. Be accountable not just to your boss, but to your employees, and to your internal and external customers, too.

Be assertive. Does this mean it's your way or the highway? No. This is about being able to objectively consider all alternatives and stay with the decision that you believe in. Project your position with confidence and power. Done properly and appropriately, this gives you strength. Done improperly, this can make you appear rigid and inflexible.

Be decisive. Make decisions quickly, and stick with them. Be able to change directions if a better plan comes along. How will you know when to stay with a decision and when to change directions? It takes a person with excellent judgment to make that call. Discount any pride and ego you have and consider things objectively.

Be able to manage talent. You don't have to know everything, just know how to manage different skills, talents, and insights in different people.

Be able to see the big picture. Know how your department fits into your company, and how your actions will affect other areas.

Be able to focus with laser intensity when necessary.

Be able to communicate with your people. Be clear and concise when you give direction. Give your people the chance to ask questions, and be able to respond. If you don't know the answer, then find it and respond to the question as soon as you can.

Show your people that you trust them. Let them have input into certain decisions. If they have a better way of doing something, then make it happen their way.

A person could conduct a whole seminar on each of the points in this summary, and on differences between leadership and management; but put these strategies to work for you, and you will be well on your way to being adored by your staff while driving great results at the same time. Your people will move mountains for you, and they will enjoy doing it! Just don't forget to move mountains for them once in a while. They deserve it!

Britton Hall is a business manager and coach who is ready to serve you. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree, is a veteran of military service, and he is a husband and father. You can contact Britton at http://www.celebrateyou.citymax.com for a personal or business coaching experience.