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.

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