Managing people is a complicated art compared to managing processes and things. You arrange the furniture in your office, and it tends to stay put. People, on the other hand, have a mind of their own - in fact, it’s that mind of their own that allows them to make greater contributions than you might ever expect - or create problems beyond your imagination.

Whether you are in a high “command-and-control” organization, a corporate office setting, or you’re tasked with coordinating volunteers for a non-profit event, the essential things you must do to manage people well are the same - if you are the person in charge and you want to create an environment where people contribute their best.

1. Communicate Expectations
2. Enable Acquisition of Resources
3. Match Assignments to Strengths
4. Provide Performance Feedback
5. Link Individual Efforts to Collective Success
6. Facilitate Communication Across Boundaries
7. Foster Development and Growth

Listen to our “7 Ideas Coach” audio podcast for more on these ideas.

Podcast

Welcome to the first of our
7 Ideas Coach Podcasts


Play Sustaining Motivation Podcast

“How do I motivate the people in my organization?”
It’s a question I hear often; but what’s really being asked is how to get people to do more on their own – to be “self” motivated. Is there a way to get people to go beyond what is minimally required?
Here are seven nuggets of leadership wisdom on motivating others.

1. People can’t genuinely say yes unless they have the ability to say no.
2. Fully listening is not equivalent to agreeing.
3. Start with building rapport.
4. Increased communication always brings increased miscommunication.
5. Real trust is given just before it is earned.
6. Assume competence.
7. Encourage conversations about big questions that can never be fully answered.
   

Bonus Idea

Have fun…and let others have fun too!


Podcast