Keeping your business on track with good people management
As an executive sales manager, I found that many work-related problems I encountered did not originate from business economics but from personnel issues. As organizations grow and develop, staffing needs change. To keep your business on track, you must get serious about good and fair people management.
Three guiding principles
Creative problem-solving takes moments of reflection. It focuses on developing new perspectives and fostering creativity. These three principles, whose basic conscript comes from Gene Getz’s Sharpening the Focus of the Church, are a good way to start.
Principle 1: Deal with people’s problems – Look at complaints as an opportunity for growth in a relationship. When a fellow worker or customer is upset with you, address the issue immediately. With effort, you can turn a bad situation into a good one. But also, if we ignore problems, they may overwhelm us.
Principle 2: Develop a proper perspective – Accept the fact that you may need help in solving problems. In his book, Who Not How, Dan Sullivan advises that seeking the assistance of someone qualified outside your organization saves time and grief. Also, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness,s and people find satisfaction in helping others solve problems.
Principle 3: Establish priorities – Have your priorities clearly mapped out. This allows everyone to recognize company expectations and avoid conflicts of interest. In my program, The 4 Disciplines of an Organized Executive, I teach people how to prioritize the next steps for important projects every week. This eliminates wasting time figuring out your next move and provides a clear path of action for your team.
Stay on track
Lastly, people are your most important asset. Be sure to take their management seriously. As staffing needs change, address problems as they arise, seek outside help as needed, and establish a clear set of priorities.
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