Management Strategies

by Mark Byars

    I wonder at times if I managed people how I would do it exactly. I'm not exactly a "people person" at times to be honest. The one thing top on my list though is to treat people like they have a brain (even if they may not). Second, games are for children. For many employees trying to "make things fun" equates to an insult to their intelligence, and their age. A feeling of importance for an employee mainly arises from a balance of professionalism and reasonably. Balance being the key word. There are going to be times that things are going to be "boring" by there very nature, and trying to put icing on a turd is not going to make it taste any better. In the end people go to a job not because it is their life, but because they owe money, pay bills, and want money for "stuff" not to make their lives a sun shiny day.
However, at the same time the work environment that causes stress and even mental illness has to be looked both broadly, and pin point. Stress causes work place inefficiency. No job is perfect, but certain obstacles are avoidable.
    Another management concept is that of project managing of employees. Do you just say "here's what I need you to do", and then come around every other day saying "how it coming along" like your putting the employee to the test. That is the workplace equivalent of "Are we there yet" from kids. Instead when you come up with a project make a starting point and and end point date that you find reasonable, and leave the employee to it. If they disagree with the time frame let them voice it so that you can reason it out  with them, and if you find their reasoning just then make the adjustment. If they don't finish the project on time as agreed then call them on the carpet on it however the situation needs to be. This strategy is mainly for simple projects. For major project, especially team ones being the loop daily is essential.
The bottom line is to not send mixed signals to your employee creating unnecessary stress that can hamper the level of their work quality.