Key Pointers to Better Management

There are some interesting philosophical questions that occupy those in business. One of these is whether management is different from leadership. Keen advocates exist on both sides, but the principal distinction is between thinking and doing.

Skills that are important in good leadership include the ability to look to the future. A good leader is able to innovate, to create and embody a vision for success. They can anticipate market developments and come up with strategies to deliver that vision successfully.

Managers should also be able to achieve this vision, and their abilities in this area are sometimes overlooked. Core management skills centre on the capacity to direct resources and effort effectively towards the ultimate delivery of the vision.

For SMEs, this ability to combine leadership and management is more critical than in larger enterprises. They must provide direction and leadership over the long term, while at the same time retaining an effective management approach. They need to create the optimal business environment that will make the most of their teams’ efforts and effectiveness.

We have a couple of pointers for developing effective management skills:

1. Prioritising:
   As a leader, it’s critical to be effective, as this has a direct and vital impact on your management style. The best leaders are able to prioritise the most profoundly important aspects of their business by building a strong and effective team. Prioritising doesn’t just mean drawing up a plan and roadmap that you stick to through thick and thin. To be really effective, you should spend time evaluating your core objectives. Determine which tasks are crucial to the successful delivery of your vision and clarify these with your team. According to successful business strategist Stephen Covey, “the key is not to prioritise what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities”. The quote comes from his best-selling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide. To prioritise effectively, you need to be able to separate the urgent tasks from the important (although it’s possible some could be both). Stopping to think carefully about this will direct your energies more effectively. You’ll be focusing on tasks that will get you results and help you actively drive progress.

2. Clarity:
   Clarity of vision and direction is vital to your team. It will increase efficiency, promote cohesion of their efforts and reduce duplication. Your team needs to recognise and understand their goal clearly so they direct their activities more effectively towards it. Their individual roles in each project must also be clarified for its successful delivery. This is an essential factor in motivating your workforce and building team cohesion. It will focus effort where it’s needed, and regular feedback will reinforce the clarity of each person’s role. In addition, carefully structured inductions should form part of the clarification, for those being promoted to new positions as well as for new hires.

Whether you see your role as leadership, management or a combination, these strategies can help to transform your business.

Our team at BHP Consulting have all successfully run businesses, and we understand that every business is unique. Our practical approach to supporting our clients enables us to share our real-world experience to positively impact on the performance of your business. To arrange a call or an exploratory face-to-face meeting, please click here.