I joined three companies as a manager and in each case I inherited team members who didn't have what it takes to do job. I'd usually find three categories of people in teams - The first group were 'good guys,' ones I knew could do job and wouldn't give me any hassle.

The second group consisted of people who needed a bit of looking after, watching closely and definitely some coaching.

The third group were ones didn't have either skills or characteristics to do job and no amount of training, or anything I could do, would change that. I would often find that these people, due to their lack of success, weren't exactly happy in job anyway and were sometimes only too pleased to be transferred to another position.

I hear you saying - "easier said than done Alan" and you're right. But successful manager needs to address these issues for good of team and business.

The successful manager concentrates on strengths not weaknesses. It's vital to give your people feedback on their strengths and also on their weaknesses. However these should only be weaknesses that you know individual can do something about.

It's a waste of your time and effort trying to sort weaknesses that can't be sorted. Some people just can't build relationships with customers; others can't work as fast as you need them to and others can't write a report to save their life.

Your most productive time as a manager will be spent giving feedback on strengths and how to develop these even further. Many managers spend majority of their time with team members trying to resolve weaknesses. They then don't have time or sometimes capability to give feedback on strengths.

Perhaps you're not comfortable speaking to your team on a human level, however, I would ask that you consider importance of your communication and rapport building skills. Your success as a manager is highly dependent on your ability to listen and speak with your people.

Human beings crave attention and acceptance and they want to know you care. If your customers and your team members feel that you're interested and care about them as individuals, then it becomes so much easier for you to achieve your goals.

Successful entrepreneurs are excellent at building rapport. When you meet them they don't necessarily talk about themselves, they ask you questions. I've met several successful business people and I'm always impressed and flattered by their interest in me.

You can practise your rapport building skills any time, particularly in your personal life. In locker room at my local health club, I notice that many of guys don't speak to each other. I always make a point of saying hello or passing time of day. If they don't want to talk then that's fine. However, I find they usually do and I've had some interesting conversations.

And forget what your mother said about never speaking to strangers - always speak to strangers!

Speak to everyone you meet and practise your rapport building skills - taxi drivers, people in trains, aeroplanes and anywhere else you come into contact. I sometimes have to push myself to do it but I'm always glad when I do.