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Managing in an Uncertain Environment
When managing in an uncertain environment such as the current recession it is useful to accept that we have little, if any, control over external factors. We do however retain control of internal affairs.
Therefore it is these internal factors that we must concentrate on. The processes and systems we use must be continuously challenged to become leaner and as effective as possible. At the same time people management is vital. In the current climate of increased uncertainty and negative news coverage staff may be tempted to disengage and move into self-protection mode. If that happens both productivity and the corporate environment will suffer and work done on developing and motivating a team will be lost.
Keeping staff fully engaged and on-task must be a Manager?s priority and this will involve using all the good people management skills we have mentioned in previous blogs. Communication and trust are key to this process. On a regular basis (and this means more than the monthly team briefing) we need to explain what the company is doing, why it is doing it and what the results will be. There will be occasions when this information will be uncomfortable as it may involve losing customers, decreased sales, or even redundancies or relocation. The importance of retaining staff's trust cannot be underestimated however, and being truthful and transparent is normally the best way. A loss of trust will damage both the manager and the company's reputation, and a lack of respect may take years to repair.
Remember to deal with your team as individuals. Identify their needs and take appropriate action. In many cases you may just need to listen or answer questions, but these simple tasks are always appreciated.
T.I.P. (To Improve Performance)
- Be visible, don't hide
- Keep information flowing
- Be Honest
Remember: Adversity is often opportunity.
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