As another workweek approaches its end I am contemplating
on the useful points that were made in my interactions with others
during the past few days. In two interesting sessions with a group
of management students, a number of valuable thoughts were exchanged.
Some of these thoughts are presented below.
1. Beware of falling into the trap of thinking
that your methods and actions are the only correct ones. It’s
the easiest mistake to make, but the consequences can be disastrous
to your reputation as a manager, for this thought process radiates
narrow-mindedness to the max.
2. Building on the first statement: be aware
of the fact that we tend to become mindless when we perform routine
tasks. A small manifestation of this phenomenon is driving to
work or home without remembering afterwards whether you stopped
for lights at the right time: you just placed yourself on “auto-pilot.”
An enormous manifestation of mindlessness is continuing to do
things the way they have always been done without even wondering
whether these processes still make sense, and - worse - without
wanting to consider any suggestions toward change. Be mindful
instead of mindless, and keep wondering if what you do is still
appropriate given the changing circumstances.
3. Value competition, but nurture cooperation.
In the business world, and even among colleagues, we are constantly
encouraged to be better than others. However, what we often overlook
is that fact that constant striving can lead to fast but mediocre
results. Instead of constant pushing toward being the best in
our own small area we should take some time now and then to look
at the big picture, which requires cooperation in order to make
our entire department, organization, city, county, state, country,
and world a better place.
4. No matter what management style you generally
propose; you should always maintain a contingency approach. Every
decision you make is subject to the circumstances under which
it appears. There is no single right answer to anything. Everything
depends on how’s, why’s, where’s, when’s,
and who’s.
5. Even the most outdated seeming management
theories still have their applicability in certain settings. Take
bureaucracy: in spite of the negative connotation this theory
has nowadays, it is still the most appropriate way for keeping
a gigantic operation well-organized. Many of today’s top
global corporations have used –and are still using- this
system, be it with some flexibility measures at the right places,
such as intrapreneurial departments to encourage the entrepreneurial
spirit in workers. But it remains a fact: where there are thousands
of people involved in the process, there needs to be at least
a minimum level of clarity regarding reporting lines and assigned
responsibilities. Flexibility and a boundaryless approach work
better in smaller, more intellectually oriented settings. Different
strokes for different folks.
6. The managers that will be most successful
in modifying co-workers’ behavior are the ones who don’t
mind modifying their own behavior first. These are the managers
that enhance the learning mentality in their workplace. They try
to lay their hands on every release of knowledge, whether it’s
a seminar, a book, or a movie, and as lifelong learners, they
inspire others to do the same.
Reprint of this article does not constitute an
endorsement by the National Business Association; the article is
for informational purposes for our members and viewers of our Web
site.
