Management Training:
4 Operating Principles For Successful Management Classes
1. Do not confuse lack of competence with naivete.
Rookie managers who've strayed into the sometimes mysterious territory of managing people could do themselves a big favour by realizing there are vast gaps in people's task-specific competencies. A highly skilled programmer is not necessarily competent at interpersonal relationships.
Even old, wizened managers can fall into this trap too.
2. Competence and motivation are apples and oranges.
Both are fruit but taste different. Look different. Competence and Motivation both come from inside the person but they look different and you have to handle them differently.
A sales person knows how to fill out her/his weekly reports, but often is not motivated to do them on time, and accurately.
3. Long-in-the-tooth, experienced employees are not necessarily competent or motivated.
Just because someone has been around for a long time does not mean they are good at what they do. The key questions to ask are:
- What was you last two biggest mistakes you made? If they have trouble with this s/he is likely out of touch.
- What did you learn from those last two mistakes? If s/he cannot clearly articulate their learning her/his experience is worth nothing and is detrimental to her/him being effective.
- What will you do differently next time? Again, if the person cannot specifically articulate what s/he would do differently her/his experience is for naught.
4. Do not confuse an inflated ego with self-awareness - the number ingredient in Emotional Intelligence, which is the number requirement for being an effective team player.
An inflated ego is full of hot air. Prick it and it will blow up. Most people are allergic to people with overinflated egos -- we break out in bad gut feelings when we're around them.
Alternatively, people are warmly attracted to people with genuinely healthy egos.
Dr. Jim Sellner, PhD:
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Subject:
Management Classes
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