learn to manage

2011 will be different

2011-02-03T11:47:00.003Z

Back to the blog after something of a gap. I'm really interested to see how managing and management will be changing (if they do) in response to the economic changes and the prevalent job cuts.I guess that we'll all need to be paying attention to managing our own lives as well as managing in our jobs. The principles of managing well can apply to everyday life as well as to succeeding in an

courage in management

2009-12-12T11:27:00.002Z

I'm thinking at the moment about courage in management, reflecting that managing well takes a lot of nerve, especially for someone new to the role.I remember feeling, with great anxiety and surprise, "You mean this is going to be up to me? That I'll be judged by other people's results?" when I first took a management role. I'd been so keen to get there, and yet managing the transition from

new starts

2009-09-16T13:35:00.002+01:00

I read somewhere that "September is the new January" meaning that this is the time for new starts and new resolutions. Certainly here in the UK we are having an energising September, where it feels like time to clear up, plan, and Just Get It Done.So what are you going to make happen this month? I'm working on improving newmanagersonline.net, checking links, uploading more scenarios and cartoons

Being effective in a new organisation or setting

2009-07-05T12:28:00.002+01:00

Getting into a new organisation, or role, or department, is much like the process of going to live in another country. You need to learn the language and customs, "the way we do things around here," if you want to be taken seriously and have some influence. Treat the first few weeks as a learning process, with or without a formal induction. Get a sense of who gets listened too, where the power

what is strategy, really?

2009-06-04T15:29:00.002+01:00

Strategic thinking helps us take positions in a world that is confusing and uncertain. You can’t get rid of ambiguity and uncertainty—they are the flip side of opportunity. I liked this comment from an interview with Richard Rumelt He goes on to say that we should distinguish what he calls "rolling plans" from strategy. For him, strategy is about exploiting

getting started as a manager

2009-04-02T11:47:00.003+01:00

When people join the New Managers members group, they are asked what their challenges are. (This is to help us tailor the site to meet what people are dealing with right now.) When I read them I often feel daunted, and am impressed by their determination and, yes, their courage. It's a big change, moving up to making things happen through other people rather than doing it yourself. Many of us

membership of newmanagersonline

2009-03-10T12:03:00.003Z

New Managers Online is moving forward. There is more material on the open area of the site which we add to regularly. As well as this, there are the members pages with more information, different ways of learning and new ideas.You can join now for free and won't be charged ever again!At the end of this month we'll be charging (a very small amount) for membership. Ask a question about your work

dealing with other people's stress

2009-03-10T11:50:00.003Z

With people worrying about their jobs, their savings, even their homes, you have quite a task as a new manager to keep your staff calm and focussed on the work in hand. You may even have your own stress to manage as well.For some people a certain amount of stress or anxiety keeps them active and energetic, but for most of us it makes us less effective. What can you do?Firstly, look after your own

what's hardest for the new manager?

2009-02-07T15:50:00.002Z

The transition from "worker" to "manager" is tough and often unrecognised. As well as taking on a new role, it can also mean seeing yourself in a new way. Quite often, what worked for you as an effective team member is not what's needed as a manager. Or rather, those skills and qualities are important - you're probably still a member, of a new team - but you need to take on a new set of skills,

new managers

2008-12-22T10:49:00.005Z

The New Managers site is just about ready, at least the free pages. The members pages are coming on reasonably well too. I'm offering free membership until March (or maybe later) as I want more feedback on the site and to involve more people in the forum.Now I need to find ways of publicising the site - the more people see it the more useful comments I can get, so as to make the membership

hot weather thoughts

2008-05-12T11:04:00.002+01:00

Here in the UK the weather is unusually hot for this time of year. Many offices have air-conditioning or fans, and of course many don't. How hot does it have to be before the building becomes an unsafe working environment? How tough should you be with your team about taking time off, or extending their lunch breaks for some sunbathing in the park? It's sometimes a hard decision to make, between

Managing people older than you

2008-04-15T14:43:00.004+01:00

One of the questions that people have asked me, when they are thinking of going for a management job, is "What if my team are older than me? Will someone mind being managed by a person who's younger than them?"In my experience what people of any age want from a manager is that they manage effectively, that they make it easy for everyone to do their best, and that they show respect for the people

Appraisals and performance reviews

2008-03-30T19:18:00.002+01:00

Having an appraisal or performance review should be an interesting and motivating experience; all too often it's either mechanical or poorly managed. There's often an overlap or even conflict too between the two purposes - the purpose of realistically and honestly looking at how a person is doing and what development would be useful for them, and the purpose of deciding whether the staff member

performance and appraisal

2008-03-30T18:46:00.002+01:00

In many organizations, this is the time of year for appraisals and/or performance reviews.Which is the prime function of these : is it to appraise and assess realistically how a person is doing, give them feedback on their performance over the year, and plan for their future development - or is it to decide on their bonus or possible promotion?The two strands are in come cases incompatible,

the power of small stories

2008-02-10T13:56:00.000Z

An interesting away-day on Saturday. This is an annual event for a small but growing cancer support centre, for all staff, volunteers and Trustees that I have often facilitated over the years. I had a feeling that the Centre had reached another growth point, where something different might be going to happen, and so the away day itself needed a different feel from the one we have generally had.We

New year, new challenges, new you?

2008-01-10T09:25:00.000Z

What will 2008 bring for you? The pundits are forecasting a tough year for business, and this may have implications for managers, with emphasis on budgets and managing costs. Your staff may be feeling the 'credit crunch' and which may affect their stress levels. This may be the moment to rethink your approach to management, taking the changing financial climate into account.And speaking of

managing teams

2007-11-24T13:05:00.000Z

I recently worked with a manager who has three or four teams reporting to her. Each team is talented, committed and different from the other teams. Some of the teams like to be left to get on with things as (truthfully) they have the expertise. Other teams, as committed to the work, are less independent-minded and look for more managerial direction. Something of a challenge.As well as this,

developing your own potential

2007-10-19T10:01:00.001+01:00

In the end, you are the only person responsible for your development, as a person and a worker or manager. There are four key areas to think about:self awareness and self understanding, including challenging your self limiting beliefsunderstanding your impact on other peopledeveloping your skills knowledge and understandingunderstanding the way your organisation worksHow can you take your own

Project management: thinking and planning stage 1

2006-06-09T09:58:00.000+01:00

Some definitions of a project “Project management is the planning, organisation, directing and controlling of people and resources for a relatively short-term objective. It is established to accomplish a set of specific goals and objectives with a specific deadline by utilising a fluid approach.” “A project is an undertaking that has a beginning and an end and is carried out to meet established

Coaching conversations

2005-11-01T12:51:00.000Z

The desired outcome of coaching, in my view, is that the person being coached is thinking more effectively, understanding their context fully, and making realistic choices. This may lead to necessary changes in behaviour. As far as possible, the coach uses conversations to lead to these results. These conversations can be helped by some key questions. Here are some examples.1. Helping people to

identity and values: some activities

2005-09-11T16:57:00.000+01:00

Understanding your basic values can help you keep or regain a sense of stability in changing times. It can also help you see whether some of the values you hold have become irrelevant or inappropriate, or need rethinking. Our sense of identity can often be closely linked to our values. Big changes can sometimes shake our sense of identity, and the activities that follow here can help you to find

Gaining, losing, and doing things differently

2005-09-11T16:00:00.000+01:00

To move successfully through transitions, you need to be able to• understand the importance of “necessary losses”;• know the value of flexibility;• assess and use your transferable skills and understanding.All change means letting go of something. Sometimes this is in order to gain the next good thing – letting go of the single life in order to be married, letting go of first-hand practitioner

leading technical and professional teams

2005-09-10T19:07:00.000+01:00

1. Here are some general observations about the kind of people you’ll have in your team Technical professionals have various characteristics in common which have implications for their managers or leaders. If you ignore these, you’ll fail in your task of bringing out the best in them for the benefit of the organisationa. Technical professionals want autonomyThey are frequently

a different kind of performance target

2005-08-30T14:48:00.000+01:00

This is a technique to help you develop highly effective relationships at work.Imagine that you have new targets which will be rewarded. The targets are these: Over the next six months there will be a noticeable improvement, however slight, in eighty per cent of your working relationships in terms of courtesy, comfort and increased understanding. You will have learned something that is of benefit

assertiveness today

2005-08-30T14:32:00.000+01:00

"Assertiveness training" was popular in the 70's and 80's. The concepts are still valid today, and the behaviours can be helpful in negotiation. It's worth having another look. Here are some statements about what “being assertive” means. See to what extent you agree with them and how often you behave in these ways.• Respecting myself, that is, who I am and what I do - and respecting other

working with someone you find difficult to deal with

2005-08-29T17:15:00.000+01:00

This activity helps you to get a different angle about someone you find hard to cope with - they may be your manager or someone who works with you. What this activity does is get you to collect all the information you have about this relationship. The final step helps you to use this information to improve what goes on between you and this person.Get clear in your mind the relationship that you

Five questions for looking at your management skills

2005-08-24T16:39:00.000+01:00

These questions are the starting point for your professional and personal development. They include the main elements of effective management1. Strategic and creative strand How do I need to be thinking in this situation? How am I seeing the future?2. Technical strand What do I need to do or know about technically? Do I need any training or development? How do I plan to get it?3. Commercial or

giving and receiving feedback effectively

2005-08-22T12:30:00.000+01:00

Giving feedback in a way that works, that helps a person improve, is one of the core skills of managing people. Receiving feedback elegantly is central to personal development. Here are some approaches that will ensure a satisfactory outcome. To give effective feedback:• Check that the person is ready to receive some feedback.• Comment only on observable behaviour (things the person does) not on

Random tips for dealing with change

2005-08-22T12:24:00.000+01:00

1. Think about your typical patterns of behaviour in times of change. Even when you can't control a particular change, you can control the way you respond. Practise observing yourself and your reactions.2.Get support. Talk with people you trust. Listen to them too. Build connections for yourself3. Give yourself a break. Do things that are not related to the change. This can help you to come