Better Management Performance - The Easy 3-Step Way

Managers make three mistakes when they try to run businesses. They do too much, they don't trust their people and they don't have enough skills. Here we explore an easy 3-step process to get your business back on track and get a life.

Managers work in increasingly challenging circumstances and workload seems to ever increase. There are opportunities to use the capabilities of each and every one of those who work with them. Yet many managers struggle on, carrying the burden until finally, that straw comes along which breaks the camel's (aka manager's) back.

So what happens? Well, managers choose not to give tasks away, for several reasons.

• The manager may feel obliged to do most of the work - after all, that's what he believes he's getting paid for.
  
  

  There is a knowledge gap.
  
  

• He may not wish to let go of some workload because his role would then be 'let go', so makes himself look very busy and thus indispensible.
  
  

  There is a confidence gap.
  
  

• The manager doesn't have the skills to work closely in collaboration with his people and gradually allow them the trust to get on with it and get it right.
  
  

  There is a skills gap.

Learning that management is about having a clear 'Whats' about the organisations vision and goals and then enabling individual and team capacity to come up with creative and delivering 'Hows', is hard for some managers. They are the ones who complain that there is too much to do; that senior management demands are unreasonable. Giving work up is vital. There is now no knowledge gap.

Management is about letting go of some of the stuff to be done, trusting your people, once given clear criteria and goals and getting on with the true role, developing others, designing growth possibilites and being pro-active and not a fire-fighter. Slowly, they get it more and more right. Their results are better and better. There is now no confidence gap.

Providing all the training sessions in the world, won't make a jot of difference if the manager is not ready for learning and development. Sometimes, hand-holding works, with the support of a mentor or an off-line coach. They learn in a safe place and get better. There now no skills gap.

Gradually, the knowledge, confidence and skills combine to generate a better manager, team and business performance. Organizations can take the lead in helping managers get this right. It is worth it.

Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com

The Leadership Imperative: Making Your Leadership Your Life

Nearly all leaders I've encountered are underachievers. They're getting a... Read More

Employers - Protect Yourself from Custody Battles that Hold Your Company Hostage

Child custody? How'd that get to be an employer's concern?When... Read More

Are Your Marketing Pieces Up to Date?

The other day someone asked me for one of my... Read More

Maximizing Sales through the Ultimate Tracking Software

Every small to mid-sized business owner would love to know... Read More

ISO 9001, What Next?

The overriding goal of ISO-14000. (History 1995)As ISO-9000 becomes a... Read More

Get It Done! Soft Skills not Hard Tools are Required

If your organization has people, then interpersonal skills are needed.I... Read More

The Supervisors 14 Essential Truths For Communicating With Direct Reports

One amazing, but sadly true, fact of today's advances in... Read More

Outsourcing Quiz: Cheap Vs. Good

Someone can say, 'Why do you oppose this?' So I'd... Read More

Inspiring Loyalty and Contentment in Your Workforce

One of the first things I look at when I... Read More

Build Rapport Fast! - Eight Easy Steps

Building rapport is all about creating a relationship, in the... Read More

Micromanagement and Delegation

Micro-Management and Delegation ... Read More

Which ITIL Process Should We Implement First?

The following question is usually debated a lot amongst IT... Read More

I Cant Use This Approach Unless My Boss Does - Power, Accountability, and Consequences

People who work with us often struggle with this dilemma:... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management - Turning Ideas into Action

The phrase "turning ideas into action" is a Russian doll.Managing... Read More

The Power of Positive Communication

Communication is the key to your success at work, at... Read More

Growing Profits is Easy!

Everyone involved in running a business from the smallest start-up... Read More

Why and How to Work with a Consultant

A good consultant provides specialist abilities and experience, innovative ideas,... Read More

Measure for Measure

Can you imagine playing hockey without a goal? Basketball without... Read More

What Makes a Good Appraisal Interview?

WHAT MAKES A GOOD APPRAISAL INTERVIEW?Here is a tip for... Read More

The Paradox of Job Enrichment

Ellen was a clerk working for a large insurance company.... Read More

Hows Your Company RQ (Reputation Quotient)?

In light of recent corporate scandals, from Enron and Global... Read More

9 Strategies for Writing Accounts Payable Procedures

The Cash to Cash Cycle Part Four of SeriesNext: Complete... Read More

Writing and Revising Your Life Story

Change is not simple. Why do we repeat behavior that... Read More

Finding the Right Way to Motivate Your Employees

Fear, Incentives and GrowthZig Ziglar says that there are three... Read More

How Invisible Communication Barriers Kill Productivity

Many kinds of interferences or disturbances can confuse a message.... Read More