Management and Managers (Все топики)

Management and Managers

The term "management" refers to those people who are responsible for making and carrying out decisions within the system. A number of different terms are used for "manager", including "director", "administrator" and "president".

When trying to identify the personal qualities we would associate with someone in a management position, it is likely that most of us would expect intelligence, a sound knowledge of the business, good general and professional qualifications, proven expertise in their area, effective communication skills, an ability to get on with people and confidence to make decisions. A manager with such personal qualities should have no need to adopt one particular style of management, be­cause he or she will recognize that every situation require a different approach: sometimes the work get done more effectively if people are left to get on with it; sometimes, in a crisis, it will be necessary to over­ride normal consultative procedures and implement an immediate course of action.

The skill of management is to read a situation accurately and adopt an approach which is most appropriate in the circumstances and will achieve the best results. In achieving these results, the manager has to rely on the staff and accept responsibility for the quality of their work. It is in any manager's best interests to ensure that the people under him or her are working as well as they can and performing their jobs effec­tively.

What Makes a Great Manager

When you gain managerial responsibility, your first option is to do what is expected of you.

When you become a manager, you gain control over your own work. You can change things. You can do things differently.

You actually have the authority to make a huge impact upon the way in which your staff work. Once you start working well, this will be quickly recognized and nothing gains faster approval than success.

A manager has to take a long-term view, he or she must look ahead and select and establish goals wisely.

It is important to take into account not only the needs of the project but also the project after that.

In any company, there are short-term excitements which deflect the work-force from the important issues. The manager should be there guard against these and to protect the team.

One of the main challenges in management is in avoiding pat answers to everyday questions. Each situation, and each person is unique and no text-book answer will be able to embrace that uniqueness-except one: you are the manager, you have to judge each situation with a fresh eye and you have to create the response. Your common sense and experience are your best guide in analyzing the problem and in evolving your response.

The situation and the environment are continually changing; and the rate of change is generally increasing with advancing technology. If you do not continually adapt (through experimentation) to accommodate these changes, then the solution which used to work (and which you still habitually apply) will no longer be appropriate. A lack of flexibility will cause stagnation and inertia.

If you pace the changes correctly you can stimulate the work of your team and continually increase productivity.

The great managers are the ones who challenge the existing complacency and who are prepared to lead their teams forward towards the personal vision. They are the ones who recognize the problems, seize opportunities and create their own future.

There are three more tips to be given to a manager.

- Be honest with your people.

- Laugh with your people ... let them know that you are not a humorless troll.

- Defend your people! They will reward you with their loyalty.

© Rudakoff, 2007