How to - Manage Others If managing other people well was easy, people would have lots of stories about great managers who not only get work done through others but inspire, motivate and develop talent so that those employees are able to accomplish and surpass the goals and objectives that have been set.

If you are having trouble getting a group or team of people to be more effective, than it could mean that you need a refresher in the key aspects of managing others. While there is an art to being an effective manager, there is also a structured science that you should be applying to your art.

• Good managing starts with good planning. Good work usually starts with a clear and well articulated goal. Once you know where you are going you can devise the best route to that destination. Examine the resource you will need as well as the resources you are lacking and then figure out how you will acquire the missing. Not only should you review the likely scenario; some time should be spent thinking about worst case scenarios and developing a back up plan should those occur. And ask the people who will be involved in the work that needs to be accomplished. Don’t overlook this valuable resource when crafting the best plan for the goal
• Once you know what you want to do, get organized. Do you have the right people involved? Do they have the right training and skills to get the work done? Will people get what they need in time to use it properly? If you are handing work off to another group, will they be ready to receive it at the right time? Do your homework and make sure that everything is available when it is needed. Be clear and communicate to people what their role is in the overall success and goal accomplishment
• Tell people what they need to do. Like a movie director, your job is to provide direction, let people know when to start, stop, come in, how to act, and when to exit. You’ve hired the actors, arranged for the props, costumes and set, and provided the script. Now get their attention. Say, “Action”, and provide direction.
• Oversee the process. Keep an eye on what’s going on and make sure it’s going according to plan. If it isn’t, guide things back on course. If a problem occurs, review your contingency plan. The manager needs to always be aware of what is going on so adjustments can be made. If something needs to be fixed, resources should be organized to make things work out well.

Managing people can be a rewarding challenge although it’s rarely easy. Managers that do an outstanding job improve their efforts with lots of practice.  7:47 AM •