by Marcus Bentley Wise

Created on: April 13, 2010   Last Updated: April 14, 2010

To manage something, to get things done, is not easy. To get others to do the work while you make sure that they do the work that you want them to do. But actually getting the work that needs to be done, completed, can be more difficult that it seems.

Firstly a good manager does not need to know every aspect of the business that they manage to the very finest detail. That is why you have a team of people who should know all the relevant information. And they should be able to do what you need them to do. But just telling someone what needs to be done and putting a system in place that you think is going to work is not necessary the best way of proceeding.

The first thing you need to do if you need to get any thing done is understand what the problem actually is. This cannot be done from sitting in an office and reading reports. You have to look at what the problem is from the end product that goes out backwards. This is the best way as some thing comes together. You need to understand what the problem is with it. This could be several effects and not just one. One might get picked out as the main problem. But in truth it is two or three other problems that are at fault. The worst thing in the world to do is just put in place a layer of paper work that covers the problem but does not actually address the problem.

Often what the problem is in many situations is not the process, raw materials, or the product. The problem is the team that is in place to that you have to manage. And to do this is often harder than finding the problems.

First, you need to define your vision of what you want. And then you need to set the goals that you need to achieve. After that you need to delegate the jobs out to the relevant people who can do the jobs that you require them to do. Set a target, set steps along the way to achieve that target. Then put a time line against the steps to achieve the targets, so that people know what they have to do and when. Put in place a system of review so that you can see what is being done and that the person you have ask to do something can have access to you to communicate how things are going .

The next thing is to be firm, but fair. Any reasonable proposal that you have asked for should not receive any resistance. But we do not live in a world were things should happen. We live in a world where things do happen. Any change will always face some from of resistance and that is why you have to be firm to put your point across, but fair in that you understand what the problem is that a person might have. As long as you have set out reasonable goals and set targets that are achievable then you can do no more.

Over all managing things so that they get done is not popular in the short term. But in the long run as long as you have a goal and it is achieved on target, you have the justification that you need.

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