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When we talk about the successful manager of the today we know that they communicate well, delegate and empower their people. We have read so much about this individual that we know what the 'prototype' looks like, on paper, but I have found that we don't seem to recognize these folks when we run into them live. I think two reasons are responsible for this. * First, we have known them before we read about them, so we are expecting the 'ideal' manager to be someone new to us. * Second, we never give personalities and emotions to the managers described in articles. But the managers in real life have those! Two client companies of ours have managers that are great examples of delegating/empowering manager. These are people who get many times more things accomplished than their peers. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see why. They delegate lots of work to their people and are open to new ideas and ways of doing things. They like to venture into to new areas and 'push the envelope.' These folks seem to always be busy with a variety of projects many of which are being completed everyday. Often their peers are 'busy' but really getting little done. Often we see that these delegating managers (DM's) have a strong interest in many aspects of their business and are open to a lot of new ideas. The converse of these people seem to be so narrowly focused that they have no interest in new ideas or different ways of doing things. The DM's have realized one of General Patton's principles of leadership, 'tell people what you want done then get out of the way and let them do it.' There are often many ways of achieving a goal. The DM's are usually so busy doing things that they have no time for complaining about what is or is not happening and nagging his people. I have found that DM's often have many very different activities happening at the same time. We expect this from the CEO because he is responsible for the overall success of the organization and as such has to be sure that all of the departments are working in some harmony. Also, the DM's will often get involved with solving problems in areas that would seem outside his/her 'jurisdiction.' With the smaller more efficient structures in today's business everyone, to some degree, has a role in the success or failure of every department. So if one area is not pulling its weight, someone has to jump in and take charge. However, this should be happening at any level within the organization and indeed is occurring more and more in the corporations. One reason is the hierarchy of the past no longer exists so managers are forced to delegate more. But some people do it very reluctantly. Finite vs Infinite Power The theory of finite versus infinite power has a lot to do with delegation and empowerment so it is very important to understand. If you believe that power is finite then you feel that if you give some of your power to someone else, that is, delegate, then you have less. If you believe power is infinite, when you give some away, you have not lost any, and in most cases you have gained more. That is one of the biggest differences in delegating and non-delegating managers. A Delegating Manager realizes that by empowering others, he or she enhances their department and the entire organization. Managers who believe in the finite theory of power are dying, along with their organizations. Many of us know of companies in this situation right now. This may relate to one of the most important words of this era - Change. Regardless of how you feel about it, Change is a fact of life for all of us. If you don't accept it, the lack of Change will be your downfall. Change just means different, not bad. For example, the automobile industry made a dramatic change in recent years from carburetors to fuel injected engines. It probably displaced a lot of people, but this change benefited us all. A myriad of changes have occurred as a result of the advancement in computer chip technology from desk top publishing to computerized control of most of the functions of an automobile. Some of the definitions of change are also, Innovation, Metamorphosis, Transformation, Correct, and Convert. These are positive terms. The Delegating Manger Empowers their direct reports. Downsizing has made delegation mandatory to some degree in many situations. The DM's however, make this tool work to everyone's advantage. This is really not new, good managers have empowered for years. In conclusion, the Delegating Manager of the present and future is one who communicates well, delegates, and empowers. We all know this from the books that are on the best seller lists. The key for all of us is to recognize these folks in our organizations, look past the irrelevant personality quirks that we tend to get hung up on and join the team. These are the people who will lead us in the future. Bill Truax Bill@BlitzCall.com 800-253-1214 © Copyright 2006 WJ Truax
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More Articles:1. Joint Accountability: Another Key for Your Effectiveness By Roger Schwarz I once was part of a group of management professors who often taught in executive development seminars. Other non-management professors in the school ran these. Occasionally these non-management professors would approach someone else in the management group to express their concerns about our teaching - they wouldn't approach the person who had taught for them.For example, if I had taught the session, the professor - let's call him Larry - would approach my colleague Dick and tell him that he … 2. Develop Your Managers and Keep Your Staff Following on from the last edition of The Organised Times where we spoke about developing the people in your business, this week we're focussing on the importance of the continual development of your managers.Leadership comes from the top down. Poor management skills is the cause of most employee dissatisfaction and results in their poor performance.The following article by Nathan Chanesman from My Profile is worthwhile reading:Poor management skills lead to poor employee performanceIt's dishear… 3. A Rare Leadership Skill: Dealing With People Who Want Out By Offering Crowns For Convoy By Brent Filson As a leader, you'll inevitably be faced with people wanting to leave your team or organization. Dealing with the challenge is critical for your leadership success. Your response will have ramifications far beyond your immediate circumstances. One of the best ways to respond comes from Shakespeare's Henry V.The stirring speech of Shakespeare's Henry before the battle of Agincourt contains many leadership nuggets. But commentators who recount the speech usually overlook a particularly valuable… 4. Planning Your Recruiting Efforts Can Help You Find Great Employees By William Von Achen Today, companies have an ever-expanding list of options available to them when it comes to sourcing new employees, from advertising in newspapers and trade journals to powerful, cost-effective recruiting options available through the Internet. Unfortunately, the growth in the number of recruiting options available has made the competition for top candidates even more fierce.So how do you break out of the pack to find the people that you need? Like most other business activities, a successful… |
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