Published Article 2002How to Walk
L.I.N.E of Effective Management Sheri A. Callahan, Horizon Consulting Group, LLC 803-606-3650 Keynote Addresses * Training * Performance Consulting www.onthehorizon.net
Management is no easy task. As managers, we dedicate ourselves to managing all of
responsibilities that we are handed down. There are a host of reports, budgets, conference calls, policies, procedures, analysis, hiring, firing, documentation and
list goes on and on and on. How is this humanly possible? Have managers been forced to accept that in today’s economy corporate America requires that we all work two jobs for
price of one? I would venture to guess that it has been accepted as a “new challenge” for those managers that want to retain employment.
These circumstances then beg
question, “Who is managing
people?” Where do we find
time and what can we do to be
most effective managers? The answer must first be qualified by saying; we can’t simply hope that our staff can manage themselves or each other. After all, as managers our first priority must always be to manage our people. Yes, we do lead first. We do mentor, guide, direct and coach, but ultimately as managers it is our responsibility to manage
people that in turn manage their tasks and priorities. In taking that role we also ultimately agree to play a number of other roles. I offer to you that there is a specific L.I.N.E. that managers can walk to get
most out of their staff.
There are truly four job titles that we must take on to meet
needs of any department. This applies to not only
people we manage, but in our personal lives as well. Think back to most effective manager you have worked for in your career. Was he/she able to mentor
staff, be inquisitive, listen to needs and concerns, and always seek fair and/or creative solutions? If
answer is yes, then your boss understood
value of walking
L.I.N.E. How about you?