Management: Influencing while leading

I recently concluded a training where my trainer asked a question that was one of the most important topical issue for debate in my class session. "Do you think we need more managers or entrepreneurs in Africa". (Well I leave you all to answer that question while we continue our discussion).

Back to our topic-

Personally after examining other peoples experiences and hearing some others talk about this same issue, I just feel it's high time other professionals get to see themselves the way they truly are.

I feel pained in knowing that many business leaders and key management staff place personal opinion above generally acceptable ethical practice in the work place.

Many would say things like -

If it’s not done my way, then it should not be done any other way.I would ask a question in return- Why hire an expert when you can take up every role you need them do by yourself? The very question many top managers should ask themselves before asking their HR Managers to place advert for any job role.

Many people live unfulfilled life’s in their careers because they were not given the chance they needed to prove their worth to their organisations. Many leave/switch jobs prematurely because they feel underutilized yet unrealistic demands are being placed on their job functions.

What is the problem with this kind of people? Management experts would attribute such behaviors to insecurity, timidity, unacceptability of current status, etc. But here are some quick tips for you incase you're tempted to go down this line as a boss or even as a subordinate as you climb the management ladder.

TIP 1: Personal Development always interplay itself in the long-run: Before you start sitting on your subordinate's job or feeling intimidated and timid about his job role and performance, always understand the a key way to remaining relevant is to personally expend quality time in developing yourself in different knowledge areas that may be directly or indirectly connected to your job function.

Tip 2: Develop a team and not just a work station: The law of synergy breaks natural arithmetic laws that allows 2+2=4, team development makes you reap the benefits of synergy as every member on your team is gifted in a particular regard and probably needs the effort of another team member to cause the team to flourish. A strong team produces better quality result over a struggling team filled with personal players.

TIP 3: Re-invent yourself for change is constant: Fighting with change makes you loose touch of time and reality. embracing changing times and business environment helps you develop foresight and build a long lasting vision for yourself before building that of your organisation.

Tip 4: Knowledge is not everything: Many would say knowledge is power, which I would always put knowledge put into use becomes power. Remember the Laws of thermodynamics?

Tip 5: Develop a teachable spirit: You are over someone today does not make you an overall champion because there's an area someone else is better than you. Not knowing that is harmful but refusing to recognize that endangers you. A single university degree is fine but consider 1 degree over 360 degrees! Go further.

Really so much to say but so little time to add up everything. Information is valuable in this age so this in turn should save bad blood breeding in our systems and allow for a more work friendly productive environment.

, ?#?AfricanManagersThink?

Ogee, Austin

Photo credit: google image