Essentials in Management!! Part I: Role of An Effective Manager

1. Manage the knowledge of people-People are not just employees or subordinates. They are "knowledge" workers. Each employee has certain knowledge and skills that lead to his/her employability. The employer should understand and respect the knowledge skill of each individual and treat him/her accordingly.    One should understand that management is a science as well as an art at the same time.  Managing people is tough, but managing their knowledge is easier and smarter way of getting things done.  Americans do not believe in hierarchy structure of organisation, rather have a "First Name" relationship with colleagues, seniors and juniors.
2. Concentrate on strengths and opportunities: We all know about SWOT Analysis-Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats. Rather than spending time improving weaknesses or whiling away threats, one should spend more time on finding his strengths and capitulating on the same.  One should try to identify and seize opportunity as and when it comes. When you convert opportunities, they automatically get converted into your strengths.
3. Four pillars of an enterprise: Four pillars of an enterprise are:  A. PRODUCTIVITY  B. PROFITABILITY  C. RETAINING EFFFECTIVE PEOPLE &   D. CUSTOMER DELIGHT.  80% of world's management literature comes from USA.  Adopt a "WHY NOT" culture, rather than a "WHY" culture.  Have effective employee feedback mechanisms such as Tukka Meeting, Brainstorming, Quality Circles, Skunk Work etc..  World reknowned organisations like 3M even celebrate failures of their employees!!
4. The concept of knowledge worker : Take care and hone skills and knowledge of your organisation people.  Have a knowledge based culture which suits your organisation.  Have an open door culture and always be receptive to new ideas and suggestions, from all levels of management.  Adopt dynamic management techniques such as MBWA-Management By Walking Around, and see changes that percolate throughout the system.  Care should be taken that any culture change in organisation should be slow and steady, else culture change may result in culture shock.  Remember - First be accepted.  To change the system, you have to be in the system.
5. Effective decision making : Make your decisions based on adequate and appropriate knowledge and information.  Information should not be over or under loaded.  Do not adopt a defensive routine, do not avoid taking decisions or procrastinate.  Remeber, a delayed decision is as good as no decision.  Always take decisions weighing options on cost benefit scale.  Adopt a wholistic perspective of the decision before taking it.  Involve people and make them responsible for the same.  Avoid TWO viruses of DECISION MAKING viz..a. GROUPTHINK (Herd mentality, "majority is right" view, no change, "why should i bother" view, defensive routine) or b. GROUPSHIFT(decision making shifts to either extremes-either total yes or total no, nobody thinks of alternatives/options). Establish a proper decision making culture in organisation. 
6. Nach / Naff / NPow Managers: Do not thrust your ideas upon others.  Look at the macro/bigger picture rather than micro scene in the aftermath of any decision made.  Select a cross functional team for best results in decision making.                

Courtesy :

Sunday Workshops @ AMA: Essentials in Management by B. N. Dastoor, Columnist & Author