Support your work force. You
can’t keep layering more good
ideas on people and not give
them the support, both financially and technologically, to
let them do their best work.
Employees get excited about
doing and implementing new
things in the company. When
they like working, they’re energized by it and going to work
is fun. They don’t want to lose
an opportunity to be challenged or to do an interesting
new project.
Be both patient and impatient.You might have a great idea
and want to start it tomorrow morning. Employees
may not have the support
system to make it work. You
have to be patient, saying, ‘OK, it’ll wait two weeks, but
let’s do it.’
You also need to have the
judgment to know when to be
patient and when to push projects to fruition. If the staff says
they’ll do it when they get
around to it, and six months
later, nothing’s happened, then
you’ve been a little too patient.
Nothing happens because all
the momentum is lost. You’ve
got to keep momentum going;
you’ve got to keep the fire
under an idea.
Provide a clear and supportive
message. You’re working
through others and implementing, and you have to sell an
idea that you think is obvious.
It’s not so obvious to others. A
successful business manager
delegates well, and that’s a two-way path.
The great people around
you will tell you when they
disagree with you, and you
have to give them their
chance to explain their views
and give them the opportunity to fail forward. You might
say, ‘I don’t think this is
going to work, but you’re so
excited about the concept,
and you’re energized by it,
and the downside is not that
bad, so go for it.’
And, never say, ‘I told you
so,’ or insinuate it. If anything,
you’ve got to give them lots of
kudos for trying. That’s how
they learn, and often, you
learn more coming out of a
bad situation than you do if
it’s successful in a mediocre
way.
HOW TO REACH: Manpower Staffing of San Diego, (619) 237-9900 or www.manpower-sd.com
