Managing People - No One Shows You What To Do

Imagine the following scenario - you pay a visit to your doctor one day and in the course of the conversation he or she lets it slip that they have no formal medical qualification. However, everything's okay because they've been involved in the "doctoring" business for years, had lots of experience and have read several books on the subject; I bet you'd be out of there like a shot.

Imagine another situation where you're looking to employ an auto mechanic to look after your company vehicles. One applicant tells you how good they are at fixing cars and trucks. Been doing it for years, the only thing is that they haven't served an apprenticeship or had any other form of formal training. Would you give them the job, of course you wouldn't.

So why, why, why do so many organisations trust their most important and most expensive asset - their employees - to someone who's had no training in how to deal with people? And many Business owners and mangers experience huge difficulty in managing people because they've never been show how to do it.

People most often get promoted into a manager's job because they know the business they're in and they know the products and the industry. Sometimes they also get promoted because they get on with the team and ironically, in some cases, because they don't. (Some senior managers believe that you shouldn't promote someone who is too "close" to the team)

When appointing a manager organisations traditionally look for someone who can do all the "management" things. All the technical skills to do the job such as planning, cost control, resource allocation, interviewing, solving problems and dealing with customers.

Management training in many organisations usually addresses the activities listed above. Managers go on courses for time management, report writing and health and safety issues amongst others. However none of these activities helps the manager to motivate their team.

Before you start writing to me I'm aware that some organisations are running courses on leadership skills and management of change; more "people skills" type of programmes. I know this because I'm running some of these courses. However, I also know that the people who come on these courses are often hearing for the first time, about how to motivate their people. Some of them have been managers for over twenty years and have never had any people skills training.

It's often just taken for granted by senior managers in an organisation that managers will have the "natural" skills to motivate, coach, give feedback and get the best out of their people. Tiger Woods has the natural skill to play golf but he's been listening to trainers and coaches for years and he still does.

I didn't get any training when I started as a manager, I was left to get on with it and find out how to motivate my team. It worked out okay for the first few years but it was only until I started formal studies in motivation techniques at the Open University in the UK that my management success really took off. I've been reading books and studying successful managers for twenty-five years. If you want to make your life easier - I suggest you do the same.

Discover how you can generate more business by motivating your team! Alan Fairweather is the author of "How to get More Sales by Motivating Your Team" This book is packed with practical things you can do to get the best out of your people. Visit http://www.howtogetmoresales.com

---

Ten Problem Solving Techniques

Do you ever need to find some good ideas, or... Read More

The Professor Makes A Minus Power Move

If you think the power move has costs, consider the... Read More

Employees - Treat Them the Way They Expect to be Treated

When you have to deal with one of your team... Read More

Know Your Business! - 7 Key Questions You Must Ask

You need to know all that is going on around... Read More

Firing Someone Without Resentment

Firing, sacking, letting go or terminating people is unpleasant. There... Read More

Leadership: Stoking The Success Train

Everyone wants to succeed yet everyone has a different perception... Read More

Successful Managing Through Delegation

Managers should avoid the tendency to constantly delegate to the... Read More

Keeping Meetings On Track

We all have been in meetings with certain people who... Read More

Spinning Gold from Straw: Low-Cost Employee Retention and Motivation Tools in a Changing Economy

New York, NY, February 25, 2005 ? Employee retention and... Read More

10 Steps Towards A Stress-Free Introduction Into Management

Becoming a manager for the first time can be an... Read More

Communication, Feedback, and Participation: Three Easy Tidbits For Smarter Business

On communication: One of the biggest strains on the communication... Read More

The New Economy

This technological revolution has organization, efficiency and productivity requirements well... Read More

Christmas and Business Gifts for Your Clients and Employees!

Tis' the season for business and corporate gift-giving! If you... Read More

How To Hire Superstars

Can a person's behavior and values really determine if they... Read More

Avoiding The Sheep Dip

It is a sad fact that many employees are still... Read More

Why and How to Work with a Consultant

A good consultant provides specialist abilities and experience, innovative ideas,... Read More

Credibility - A Golden Key to Becoming More Influential

You have been named a new leader in your organization,... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management - Turning Ideas into Action

The phrase "turning ideas into action" is a Russian doll.Managing... Read More

Finding the Right Way to Motivate Your Employees

Fear, Incentives and GrowthZig Ziglar says that there are three... Read More

Never Wrestle with a PIG

The business books at the library and book stores fill... Read More

Einstein, The Universe, And Leadership

Every since serving a hitch in the military, I have... Read More

Think Twice Before Selling ROI

When we're selling to business people, our value proposition has... Read More

A Management Strategy

I witnessed some interesting behaviour from one of our premier... Read More

How to Deal With Salespeople

If you are an executive, you may sometimes feel like... Read More

Executive ESP: A Pathway to Success!

We all have psychic abilities that we use daily, although... Read More