Six Management Tips for Trying Economic Times Part 1

Written by Molly Luffy


(Part 1 of a three part series, today's tips 1 - 3)

If you are like most managers I know, you are constantly being asked to do more work with less resources. Andrepparttar same is true for your employees. This combined with layoffs, financial struggle and media stories of corporate corruption leaves many employees feeling more fearful for their jobs, more stressed out and more over-worked than ever before!!

As a manager, it’s up to you to keep your staff productive and motivated. This is a tough job at any time, but especially now. So you’ll need to spend extra time strategizing as to how you can accomplish your departmental goals with a stressed-out, over-worked staff.

The first thing you'll need to focus on is keeping your own attitude in check. It can be really easy to get discouraged when you are so busy and see no end in sight. But now, more than ever, it’s up to you to be a good example for your employees.

Despite what you may think, your employees are looking to you for guidance and they are definitely paying attention to how you are handling things. Expressing an attitude that’s less than positive has a trickle down affect on your employees. Many employees figure that if you have a bad attitude, why shouldn’t they? So take great strides to put on a happy face and show your employees that you've got things under control and are handling things just fine. Without being nauseating about it, please.

Demonstrating a good attitude has another great benefit. It helps you stand out fromrepparttar 105502 crowd. It’s duringrepparttar 105503 darkest days that stars shinerepparttar 105504 brightest, so try to be a star. Consider this time as an opportunity for you to show your superiors just how competent you really are. Rise aboverepparttar 105505 negativity and uncertainty to do a stellar job and try to act like you're enjoying yourself. You will be rewarded for it!!

Now that your attitude is in good shape, you’ll want to addressrepparttar 105506 attitude of your employees. This is notrepparttar 105507 time to let employee negativity slide. Yes, employees are worried, but that doesn’t give themrepparttar 105508 right to mouth off and create trouble. Offer your employees opportunities to communicate with you on a regular basis. Allow them to ask questions and voice their concerns. But don’t allow them to spend precious work hours complaining to co-workers and stirring up further unrest. If you become aware of such activity, do what Barney Fife says -“Nip it, nip it, nip it!”

"The Little Corporation Who Cried Wolf" Part 3

Written by Molly Luffy


Okay guys, it's time for part three of our plan. Are you ready? Have you maderepparttar commitment to re-energizing your staff? Have you followedrepparttar 105501 action steps and started to create your "dream department."

Well, just in case there is a small handful of you who aren't quite up to speed yet, let's do a short review...

We started this whole thing with a discussion of how very important your own motivation level is torepparttar 105502 success of your department. Unless you are personally upbeat and positive, you cannot expect your staff to be. Your "action steps for success" suggested that you look at working through any issues that are keeping you from being super-motivated. Then it was time for you to make an official commitment to yourself that you were willing to do whatever it takes to get moving on your re-energization plan.

Next we looked atrepparttar 105503 first three components torepparttar 105504 plan: 1. Communicating your plans to your employees 2. Be involved, be visible and be around and 3. Clarifying expectations.

Did you completerepparttar 105505 action steps directed towards achievement of these steps? I hope so 'cause it's time for steps 4 - 6.

Component #4 Show 'em you care!!

Does this sound like a greeting card company slogan? Probably, but that's okay - I'm really not talking about showing 'em you care in a warm, fuzzy kind of way. There are ways you can do this without making them think you are losing your mind. Like listening to them. Think about it - doesn't it carry a ton of weight with you when your boss listens to you without doing fifteen other things atrepparttar 105506 same time? And what about when he listens and actually uses some of your ideas. Pretty cool, huh? Well, it'srepparttar 105507 same way for your employees. They want to be heard and understood. And it's up to you to find a way to makerepparttar 105508 time for this to happen.

Another way you can show 'em you care is to be around to help them out when they need it. As we discussed last time, you'll now be spending lots of time in your department which is where you need to be if you are going to be helpful to your employees. Now I'm not saying that you should put onrepparttar 105509 baby-sitting hat but do offer to pitch in and help when your employees need it. After they recover fromrepparttar 105510 shock, they'll really think it's great.

The next way to show them you care is to show them that you are working just as hard, if not harder, than they are. Your employees cannot stand figure-heads, and neither can we, right? So make it obvious to them that you are busting your butt to make things happen. But please try not to be too annoying about it. There is a fine line between letting employees know that you are working really hard and complaining/bragging. You don't want to sound like some kind of whiner, right? So watch it.

Component #5 Foster a team atmosphere

Man, this is a hard one. Employees these days just don't seem to want to join in onrepparttar 105511 old "team spirit" bandwagon. But if there is some way, any way, that you can enlist your troops, do it. You can start by talking about this concept. In your department meetings tell them that you really want everyone to come together and create a team. Tell them that you expect them to work together and help each other. They'll secretly snicker at first, but after a while they'll start to think about it.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use