by Joseph Wardy

Created on: June 12, 2008

As an independent management development and presentation skills consultant and trainer,I've taught hundreds of seminars on attaining greater success. For professional level people, it boils down to a healthy balance of success with tasks and people problem solving skills.

Here's the challenge I've observed in the corporate arena: People are frequently promoted into management because of their capacity to succeeed with tasks. There is much less emphasis on the people skills. The best salesman frequently do not make the best sales manager and the same for a teacher promoted to a principal.

Let's explore first the people side:

* Control of power- The title of manager doesn't mean total control. We cannot control the behavior of others as managers tend to believe. Managers, however, can influence behavior by virtue of their title. So, if you are a manager, are you authoritarian or authoritative without being an authoritarian? Here's a test: If you use I you tend to be an authoritarian and control oriented and we is authoritative with a partnership focus.

Authoritarian managers tell. This is infectious as it feel powerful and it saves time. But it wins the battle while losing the war. We don't motivate people by a refusal to seek their input. Recognition is our greatest human need. When working with workers , please remember the most powerful words in the English language according to a study at Yale University are as follows: You, Thank You, What Do You Think and I Am Proud Of You.

You is caring, Thank You is appreciation, What Do You Think is respect and I Am Proud Of You is recognition.

Let's now examine the task side. Management guru said: " If you have a star, step aside and let them pass you". The use of delegation is a healthy balance between abdication and control.

Please remember that delegation is crucial to your career success. How can you get promoted if you are grooming a successor? I'm not suggesting you "give away the store" by delegating to one and all. Suggestion: Know your staff well enough to recognize potential.

Lastly, tied to delegation is the capacity and skill to be a mentor. When you assign a task to an associate, do you provide timely and concrete feedback? If you do, it can provide an opportunity to tell them how proud you are(Yale University study) of their effort and success.

Conclusion: An effective manager not only opens their mind but unlocks their heart to allow their associates free admission!

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