Submitted by: Bruno Raynal
Any executive will tell you that success in business begins with the ability to rally employees around specific goals and then provide the proper motivation to achieve those goals. But if you don t have the building blocks in place to know how to manage your employees, how can you convince them to buy-in to the goals, let alone motivate them to forge ahead on the path you ve set out for them? Professional business coaching can help.
When you are managing employees, you must look at the following perspectives:
The Skill: inborn talent, knowledge, expertise gained through training and expertise
The Will: attitude, desire to achieve, incentives to do a particular task, confidence in abilities
Some managers believe that skills are more important, whereas others think it is the will that counts. So, which is it? The skill of the employee or his/her will to achieve?
Blanchard and Hershey s skill/will matrix can help us decipher the equation. Skill is the X axis and Will is the Y axis. Guide is the top left quadrant, Delegate is the top right quadrant, Direct is the bottom left quadrant, and Excite is the bottom right quadrant. This matrix is helpful in judging the skill-level and the willingness of an employee to perform the task at hand. Based on the results, you can steer him/her towards success with the assistance of professional business coaching.
An old saying goes: If you don t have the skill but the will, even then you can work wonders, but if you possess the skill and lack the will, then you can t achieve much. Professional business coaches will tell you that enthusiasm and passion are infectious. Employees have an innate ability to know whether their manager is a true believer. So, as a manager, you must believe in the goal before you can convince your employees to believe. Remember that the skills will probably be present. After all, you hired people who had the skills to perform the job. But do they have the willingness to work and learn and achieve the goals of the organization?
Let s take a closer look at the matrix, understanding that employees are rarely in one quadrant all the time. They will fall into one quadrant or another depending on the task and their skill/will as defined above:
Guide: Define the goals clearly and also discuss the time limits, budget, methods, etc. Employees need to be trained properly for a certain task and it is your responsibility to provide the training that is needed. Track their progress regularly so that you can give them feedback. Accept the fact that they will make mistakes and also reward them with bonuses when they complete a task. Professional business coaching can teach the skills you need to guide your employees.
Direct: Motivation is the buzzword here. Find out what motivates him/her and set the tasks accordingly. Make sure that the deadlines and limitations are clearly communicated. Structure the work for faster wins. Here, too, you must praise them for a job well done and provide feedback on a regular basis.
Delegate: The employee should be involved in the decision-making process and his/her opinions should also be taken into account. Always make sure he/she understands the task at hand, and remember to check-in at key milestones. Giving responsibility and authority will inspire the employee to do his/her best. Need inspiration for your role as a manager? Professional business coaching can give you that inspiration to help you delegate tasks.
Excite: The employee chosen for any task should know why he/she has been selected and understand the importance and relevance of it. Clearly communicate the goals and the budget, require regular check-ins to keep tabs on progress, provide frequent feedback, and reward success.
You will have the biggest impact when you Direct to Guide and Excite to Delegate. Above all, demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm for achieving the goal. Your attitude will be imitated whether you like it or not. With how much gusto do you approach challenges? Would employees agree that you engender excitement? Focus on the will rather than the skill and watch the will take your business to new heights!
Excited about becoming a better manager? Learn more about Blue Thinking professional business coaching by visiting www.ThinkBlueThinking.com or calling 619.550.8052.
About the Author: Bruno Raynal is the president and CEO of Blue Thinking, a corporation based in San Diego, California. Learn more about Blue Thinking by visiting
ThinkBlueThinking.com
or calling 619.550.8052.
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