What is the best management advice you've been given?

2017-03-24T07:49:32-04:00

Employees always tend towards what is easy to do. Everyone’s expected to do more, with less. Time’s an issue. Energy’s an issue. Systems can be an issue. Managers must get good data. You need the right data to make the right assessments. You need your team to be able to do what is right every time.*Therefore your job as a manager is to make the "right" thing, the "easy" thing to do for your team.*

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2017 7:51 AM

2017-03-24T07:51:34-04:00

PRP, Presence, Relationship and Performance is the advice I give.

Response by 1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2017 7:54 AM

2017-03-24T07:54:27-04:00

To elaborate:
Shortly after being promoted in my civilian career to a role in a new facility, I visited a sister location in Michigan to learn more about their successes and bring those back to my facility. It was eye-opening, as collaboration should be.

While discussing system transactions and the difficulties of related accuracy, Richard Marx told me:

Employees always tend towards what is the easy thing to do. Everyone is expected to do more, with less. Time is an issue. Energy is an issue. The systems we use, can be an issue.
As a manager, you must get good data. You need clean reports to get that "right data" to make the right assessments as the manager. You need your team to be able to do what is right every time.
***Therefore, your job as a manager is to make the "right" thing, the "easy" thing to do for your team.***

It was an epiphany. The advice has truly impacted my work as a manager since. I already loved my team, that was easy for me. But to get the right information to make the decisions we need to make, we need to get everyone on board. And it starts with making it easy for others to do. I give the full credit to Richard Marx in Michigan and thank him.

What's the best management advice you've gotten? Please comment.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2017 8:19 AM

2017-03-24T08:19:39-04:00

Here is another in my series:
https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/advice-for-the-micromanager

Advice for the Micromanager | RallyPoint

During my last tour on active duty I got to see my peers take early commands as O-4s in the Navy. Many of these Commanding Officers were friends and as such, we spent time talking about issues they would not discuss with most people. One thing I noticed is that our community had developed a group of micromanagers as part of our culture. There was this extreme fear of even the smallest of errors. People referred to it as the “zero defect...

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2017 1:17 PM

2017-03-24T13:17:48-04:00

1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member The best advice that I was given was to not micromanage. A manager should mentor and part of mentoring is to lay out the task that you want accomplished, and then let your team or team member, go out and accomplish the task. Guidance and encouragement will be provided as needed.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2017 4:28 PM

2017-03-24T16:28:21-04:00

Be Fair, Firm, and Consistent.

Response by CPT Jim Schwebach made Mar 24 at 2017 4:59 PM

2017-03-24T16:59:16-04:00

None of us is as smart as all of us.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Mar 24 at 2017 6:47 PM

2017-03-24T18:47:35-04:00

Lead, follow or get out of the way!

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 24 at 2017 11:57 PM

2017-03-24T23:57:24-04:00

Be a leader... not a manager... 1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Mar 25 at 2017 6:56 AM

2017-03-25T06:56:42-04:00

Lead by example, do what you would have other do.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 25 at 2017 11:56 AM

2017-03-25T11:56:20-04:00

1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member This might help. In may second career, this is central idea in what we cover. I use changingminds.org all the time, as it is short, sweet and concise. It has easy to read and understand summaries of just about every leadership, power, and motivation theory.
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/leadership/articles/manager_leader.htm

Leadership vs. Management

Leaders lead people. Manager manage tasks. There is a difference.

Response by SSgt Mark Stapleton made Nov 17 at 2022 2:26 AM

2022-11-17T02:26:10-05:00

Listen to those in the field that have the Experience and see up close the workings of that which is under your control along with reliable data, access any situation (with proper input) of reliable sources ,and act on task at hand to either improve safety, reliability, cost effectiveness in line with company goals.

Response by PVT Ted Rodosovich made May 13 at 2023 3:57 AM

2023-05-13T03:57:12-04:00

Hire well