Chaotic Boss Makes a Chaotic Office!
Posted: Thursday, July 01, 2010
by Maggie Kelly
W & M Watson Packaging Ltd
Feel like you don't have a grasp on your staff? Well hold tight- help is near!
Ever heard of the knock on effect? Perhaps you played dominos as a child or even as an adult- and why not it's a valuable lesson in life! It is almost as if each domino has a name coulda- woulda- shoulda'; just pushing each other over all the way across the room.
One's management style is reflected throughout the office; it radiates on the staff's face and ranks no. 1 in producing results. Some manager's may lack organisation, communication or just pure knowledge. Now we are going to eliminate the latter type as this is a rare case and there are no solutions for this one but replacement or development.
Manager's that lack organisation or communication may not be aware of the result their weakness is having on the overall operation. Lacking in these basics a bad manager does not make; but a frustrated staff it does. So you may be clever, well liked and extremely intelligent; but without order you have huge gaps for error. These two characteristics are the foundation of smooth sailing upstream and are easy to improve upon. Let's focus on the steps down the path to that calm, flowing and right' place.
1. Prioritise
Most managers are exceedingly swamped with work; requiring more time than is actually available. So prioritise what is most important for that day; then move the lesser items until the next day. Now this may be a tossup between small and large things; or things that are more time consuming. If it will cost you money for not doing it; I am going to tell you- that should be on the top of your list! Everyone has different priorities; but when it comes to management everything that is work is important and non work tasks are less so.
2. List it/ Schedule it
Your role is important and people rely on you to be on time, precise and detailed. Your lower level staff should not be following up on your stuff; you should be following up on them! If you can't remember things, do them in a time sensitive manner or do it right- then staff will have no respect for you and no interest in contributing to the organisation.
3. Do it first!
There is no point in waiting to do something until later; finish one thing at a time. Work from your list, prioritise and finish. Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.' (Don Marquis) As you may be aware working for yesterday today is a HUGE miscalculation of TIME! And that mistake will cost you.
4. Communicate
Most people working for you will not be mind readers and probably never will be. So stop assuming people are; and communicate with them. I am going to assume that most of you will say you do communicate; but that is you deceiving yourself. No you have not told someone, you did not reply to that email and you never gave the girl downstairs' an answer. So communicate what you will do and have done with the appropriate details.
Some of the points discussed above are easier for some people than for others-so just keep visualizing the domino effect and forget the words shoulda-woulda-coulda'!
Michelle Kuehn is an operations consultant for W & M Watson Packaging Ltd (http://www.wmwatson.co.uk) in Glasgow UK . Her background in business management and eco-friendly packaging comes from her experience with international companies throughout the U.S. and UAE as well as with W & M Watson packaging Ltd, UK .
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Managers are the same as parents, really; they have the same responsibilities, and the same kind of effect on those under their care.
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