This article is based on following book: It’s Your Ship "Management Techniques from Best Damn Ship in Navy" By Captain D. Michael Abrashoff Published by Warner Books, 2002 ISBN 0-446-52911-7 224 pagesA challenge for every organization is to attract, retain and motivate employees. If a company succeeds in doing so, employees work with more passion, energy, and enthusiasm. This translates to an increase in productivity and more profit for company.
Another factor to remember is this: real leadership must be done by example. Remember that people below you follow your lead and that you have an enormous influence on your employees. They will look up to you for signals on how to behave and what organization expects from them.
Remember that one of secrets to a successful management of any organization is to be able to articulate a common goal that inspires people to work hard together. Proper, effective and open communication of goals, rules, instructions and expectations can spell a difference.
The best way for an organization to succeed is to give employees all responsibility they can handle and then stand back. Trusting your employees to do their job well sustains company.
Trust is also a social contract – you have to earn it. Trust is earned when you give it. When people start trusting each other more and more, they stop questioning motives and start to work as one unit.
Encourage people in your organization to be more result-oriented by opening their minds to new ideas. Encourage them to use their imagination to find new ways of doing things. Your employees must learn how to take initiative.
It is also important to remember that sometimes, you need to learn to take calculated risks. Bet on people who think for themselves. By taking a "leap of faith" and trusting that one person can do job and do it right, you increase his self-confidence and make him do his job even better. You must also learn to take a chance on a promising sailor. Give people second chances especially if you see potential in him. He might just surprise you with outstanding results. Lastly, if a rule doesn’t make sense, break it carefully. Remember, there is always room for improvement but think ideas thoroughly before implementing it.
In any business, standard operating procedure (SOP) is rule. It is safe, proven and effective. However, SOP seldom gets outstanding results and distracts people from what is really important.