Sometimes … you have to be the enemy!

I was recently asked to make a pitch to an executive team @ a Dublin hotel. They wanted a quick recap on what the ‘Best’ Managers do. The pitch had to be ’15 minutes or less.’  While most of us know this stuff already – the key is putting it into practice. If you were on trial for being a great manager – based on the following checklist, would there be enought evidence to convict you?

Allocate Time: Most of us have 2 elements to our role. We have a specialist element e.g. Client Servicing or Engineering and a ‘management’ piece e.g. helping the people who report to us to service clients or complete engineering projects. The trick here is to avoid the gravitation pull into doing (which is often more personally satisfying than managing). To make sure that you are investing sufficient time in managing – you need to diary this. This can be both formal (e.g. planned ‘Monday Meetings’) and informal (e.g. walk abouts).  Superquinn issued badges to managers with the tagline YCDBSOYA – you can’t do business sitting on your arse. Key point: Every manager decides how to do this; but they shouldn’t decide if it gets done or not. There are no spectators on the managerial pitch. It’s part of the set menu. If you don’t have an appetite for this, why not get another job?

Leverage Performance: What % of your personal ability is being used in the job? Not just long hours, but your real potential? Now ask that same question of everyone who works for you. The managerial job is to get ‘all the troops’ into 5th Gear – Turbo-Charged teams of staff. This doesn’t somehow magically happen. On a collective basis – people need to know that they are working for an organistation that stands for something. They need to have challenge in their role. The goalposts need to be clear. They (and you) should use feedback as the game progresses – don’t wait till the final whistle to figure out the score. Managing is an unselfish task. It’s about them not you. Give up your Red Adair complex (wanting to put out all the fires yourself) and let others don the Firefighers suit. It’s amazing what you can achieve when you don’t need to take credit for it.

Great Communication: Great communications isin’t a question of becoming a raving extrovert. We all have our own style (which is pretty difficult to change e.g. there was a lot of consulting money spent on Hilary). It’s about 3 things (a) setting up a system to do this – see point 1 above (b) becoming a great listener – a much underrated communications skill  where introverts already have a head start (c) overcome the Cardinal Sin of Communication i.e. being boring! Taking a few risks around how you deliver messages can really pay off. But, ultimately, great communication is not about tricks. It’s about sincerity – a sincere wish to improve your own and others performance.

Embrace Conflict: Most of us have a hardwired need to be liked which is part of the human condition (sociopaths can skip this section). That’s great provided … it doesn’t get in the way of managing. Being a manager inevitably pushes you up against tough decisions. Underperformance is an obvious example. Feedback is like a ‘growth hormone’ for people (when it’s handled well – and is constructive rather than destructive). You have to learn to give both positive and developmental feedback, even when this is personally uncomfortable. The good news is that this gets easier as you practice.

Sometimes the best ideas are simple. But, don’t confuse simple with simplistic. 2+2 = 4. The math is simple. It’s also correct. This stuff delivers. So should you!

Paul

PS Lighter Note: Oh, to be a Manager

An Indian walks into a cafe with a shotgun in one hand and a bucket of buffalo manure in the other. He says to the waiter, “Me want coffee.”

Waiter says, “Sure Chief, coming right up.”

He gets the Indian a tall mug of coffee, and the Indian drinks it down in one gulp, picks up the bucket of manure, throws it into the air, blasts it with the shotgun, then walks out.

The next morning the Indian returns. He has his shotgun in one hand and a bucket of buffalo manure in the other. He walks up to the counter and says to the waiter, “Me want coffee.”

The waiter says “Whoa, Tonto. We’re still cleaning up the mess from the last time you were here. What the heck was that all about, anyway?”

 The Indian smiles and proudly says: “Me in training for management. Come in, drink coffee, shoot the shit and disappear for the rest of the day.”

Q: Don’t you just hate people using those selfie sticks? People who use them should take a long, hard look at themselves!

 Great reasons to go to work naked..

1. No-one ever steals your chair.
2. Gives ‘bad hair day’ a whole new meaning.
3. Diverts attention from the fact that you came to work drunk.
4. People stop stealing your pens after they’ve seen where you keep them.
5. Stops those creepy programmer guys looking down your blouse.
6. “I’d love to chip in… but I left my wallet in my pants.”
7. Take advantage of computer monitor radiation to work on your tan.
8. Your boss won’t say, “Get your ass in here by 8:00!” ever again.

Check our website http://www.tandemconsulting.ie or call 087 2439019 for an informal discussion about executive or organization development.