Have you caught yourself or other managers whining about staff, “They should have gotten that done but they just goofed off.” Or “I expected them do that without direction but when I checked, they got it all wrong. And look at what we pay them.” Or “I have to do everything myself; no one trained them and I can’t trust them.” Stop whining and start managing; the buck stops at your desk.
To read the rest of this article from the Denver Business Journal, see: Managers – Evaluate Honestly and Consistently or Fail
http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2001/02/12/smallb4.html
Whether you have inexperienced or experienced people, train and manage them so you’re thrilled with their work. There are no excuses – it’s your job. Learn to do it well or do something else.
The key to management is honest, consistent evaluation – and all the steps that go into effective and appropriate course correction. If you don’t track consistently, you’ll spend much more time picking up the pieces. Sporadic or dishonest tracking reinforces poor performance, fear, hostility, anger and lawsuits.
Some of the keys to successful managing are (see the original article for details):
- Know each person. Estimate how long you think each task will take. Integrate, prioritize and agree on professional and personal goals, and standards of behavior and communication.
- Clarify what the final product or service will look like. Determine milestones and timelines, final goals and deadlines. Don’t wait until the last minute.
- Specify responsibility, authority, support (resources, personnel) and constraints. Clarify what they can do their way and what must be done your way or the company way. Clarify accountability. Clarify rewards and consequences.
- Determine what to do if there’s a question, problem or new information to be taken into account.
- Now manage – oversee the project. Give accurate, honest feedback. Keep records.
- Remove poor performers, trouble-makers, bullies and people with low attitudes.
You can’t manage if you’re afraid, lazy, a control freak or too busy. What you don’t evaluate, won’t matter – you’re telling them that it’s OK if they blow it off or do it poorly.
Stand up for the standards – set the tone and do the work. Of course it’s hard - if it was easy, anyone could do it.
Often, individuals need coaching and organizations need consulting to help them design and implement a plan that fits the situation. To get the help you need, call Ben at 1-877-828-5543.