Catch Your Staff Doing Something Right

A long time ago, I learned something about being a manager that has proven to be one of the most valuable lessons I've ever heard.

You can't manage people from inside your office. You have to be out and about, talking to your staff and co-workers, and seeing and hearing what's going on out there. It's called "Management By Walking Around", or MBWA.

Technology has been a huge asset to the workplace, but it's also made us a little lazy and disconnected. How many times do you e-mail someone in the next office, or down the hall, instead of getting up and walking over there? Or you fax a document instead of carrying it to the person who needs it? People need personal contact and with e-mail and fax machines and cell phones and ATM's and self check out lines in the supermarket, we're getting less and less human contact every day. If you're the boss, it's even more important that you spend in-person time with your staff ? there's no substitute for face-to-face contact.

If you're new to MBWA, your staff won't know how to react and you may get stiff, monosyllabic answers at first. Persevere and show genuine interest and you'll get the results you're looking for. No one wants the boss standing over them and watching what they do, so when you practice MBWA have some simple questions or comments in mind. For example,

1. What's the most critical thing you're working on right now? Is there anything I can do to make the project easier to complete?

2. How's the Jones report coming along? Any problems with making the deadline?

3. I'm impressed with your latest proposal, Karen. I know this project is a lot of extra work and long hours and I appreciate your commitment and flexibility.

4. Hey, Bob, I see you have some vacation time coming up. Do you have any special plans?

5. I saw that movie you recommended ? what great special effects! Thanks for the tip!

Remember, keep it simple, short, casual and positive. Save the negative comments for a more private time and place. If one of your staff members brings up an interesting subject that sounds like it will take a while, invite her or him for a cup of coffee and set aside some time to really give justice to the topic.

As a manager, it's easy to get caught up in your administrative duties and project responsibilities but the time spent away from your office and interacting with your staff will yield far greater results. It takes time and effort to build and maintain a balanced, effective workforce; take the initiative and you'll be rewarded with an atmosphere of trust and openness that will spell success for any organization.

When you talk to your staff, do you really listen to them? Try this. Every Friday afternoon write down three things you learned from your staff during the week. If you can't list at least three things a week, you're probably not listening carefully enough.

Looking for more career advice?

Joan Schramm is a career, executive and personal coach with twenty years experience in management, training and coaching. Joan can work with you to figure out exactly what you want from your life and your career, and how to get there without a lot of detours.

For more information about Joan, or to talk about what's going on in your career, e-mail coach@achieve-momentum.com, or go to http://www.achieve-momentum.com. Sign up for a free monthly newsletter, "Angular Momentum" and take a free Job Satisfaction Assessment.

---

Google News Updated : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:49:07 GMT Computer Chip to Monitor Teen Drivers - ABC News Vancouver Sun Computer Chip to Monitor Teen Drivers ABC News - 1 hour ago By LISA STARK, MATT HOSFORD and KATE BARRETT Car keys -- long perceived as the keys to teenagers' freedom -- may soon be the best way for parents to monitor their every move. Going Along on the Ride With Junior New York Times Ford: Key limits speed, stereo volume United Press International TheMustangNews.com - Edmunds.com/Inside Line - Computerworld - CNET News all 636 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:16:34 GMT Rays roll over White Sox, punch ticket to ALCS - Sports Network New York Daily News Rays roll over White Sox, punch ticket to ALCS Sports Network - 34 minutes ago Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - BJ Upton hit two solo homers, and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Chicago White Sox, 6-2, to clinch their first berth in an American League Championship Series in franchise history. White Sox eliminated from post-season with Game 4 loss to Rays The Canadian Press Rays Finish Off White Sox to Reach ALCS New York Times MLB.com - Chicago Tribune - Boston Globe - The Associated Press all 2,434 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:14:13 GMT Injury forces May-Treanor to sit out this 'Dancing' - USA Today Sioux City Journal Injury forces May-Treanor to sit out this 'Dancing' USA Today - 39 minutes ago By Bill Keveney, USA TODAY Two-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor may be sidelined from ABC's Dancing With the Stars, but she says she won't let a leg injury suffered during rehearsals stop her from competing in beach volleyball. Misty May-Treanor drops out of ‘Dancing’ MSNBC May-Treanor vows torn achilles won't end her volleyball career ... ESPN E! Online - Portsmouth Herald News - BuddyTV - TMZ.com all 281 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:09:39 GMT China's Reputation On Product Safety Reaches a New Low - Washington Post Alaska Highway News China's Reputation On Product Safety Reaches a New Low Washington Post - 53 minutes ago By Blaine Harden Even Burma -- where one of the world's most repressive and isolated military governments relies on trade with China -- has now warned its people to steer clear of all Chinese dairy products. Video: No Traces of Melamine in New Test of Milk Powder AssociatedPress China vows overhaul of 'chaotic' milk industry The Associated Press Bernama - AllAfrica.com - International Herald Tribune - AFP all 1,384 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:55:33 GMT As Palin Brings Up Ayers, Obama Team Cites Keating - Washington Post Seattle Post Intelligencer As Palin Brings Up Ayers, Obama Team Cites Keating Washington Post - 31 minutes ago By Anne E. Kornblut and Michael Abramowitz The presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama for the first time criticized Sen. John McCain for his role in the "Keating Five" savings-and-loan scandal yesterday, saying the issue was fair game after a ... Video: AP Campaign Minute AssociatedPress McCain ready for combat in 2nd presidential debate USA Today Financial Times - Chicago Tribune - Los Angeles Times - The Associated Press all 4,559 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:17:08 GMT Three Europeans win the 2008 Nobel for medicine - International Herald Tribune Washington Post Three Europeans win the 2008 Nobel for medicine International Herald Tribune - 59 minutes ago By Lawrence K. Altman The Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded Monday to three European scientists who discovered viruses behind two devastating illnesses, AIDS and cervical cancer. Aids and cervical cancer pioneers share Nobel award Financial Times Nobel Prize to HPV Researcher Highlights Importance of Cervical ... FOXBusiness The Associated Press - Summit Daily News - Forbes - AFP all 1,040 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:50:01 GMT Plaxico Burress takes Giants to school with tired act - New York Daily News New York Daily News Plaxico Burress takes Giants to school with tired act New York Daily News - 38 minutes ago Plaxico Burress with his son after the Giants win Super Bowl 42. Burress will need to get his act together if the Giants are to repeat as champs. Burress Returns to Giants, With No Regrets New York Times Unapologetic Plaxico Burress returns to Giants The Associated Press The Star-Ledger - NJ.com - Hartford Courant - Rotowire - Newsday all 251 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:10:29 GMT Automate Your Blogging Display RSS Feeds on Your Website

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

The ?Better People? Fallacy

It's easy enough to convince your own staff that better... Read More

Take the Easy Route - Delegate

It was 2.30 am. It was cold and dark and... Read More

Boost Your Leadership Skills Simply By Answering The Question, What Does Our Organization Really...

The difference between leaders is ears. Good leaders not only... Read More

How to Create a Trusting Manager-Employee Relationship

BUILDING TRUST AS A MANAGER: 1. Be reliable. Follow through... Read More

Train Me -- But Follow Through

My mechanic has me trained. When I take my car... Read More

Budgets that Damage - The Downsides of Making the Numbers

In my organisational career, I had budgets from the age... Read More

Service Level Agreement (SLA) Boot Camp

Service Level Agreements, or "SLA's" are tricky but useful mechanisms... Read More

Business Innovation ? Core Competency and Competitive Advantage

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Its Not Always What You Say

A major source of communication breakdowns is incongruence between the... Read More

Outsourced Learning: Are You Ready for Learning BPO?

As the business world enters a period of hyper-competitiveness, every... Read More

Action Learning: Its More Than OJT

For centuries companies have used on-the-job training (OJT). OJT works... Read More

The Diamond Cutter

Geshe Michael Roach is a Princeton graduate and a Buddhist... Read More

Experiences of Management Coaching (Part 2)

In our experience, we have found that there are several... Read More

Leadership Skills Means Turnover is Not a Problem

"Ha!" you say. "For someone to make a statement like... Read More

Keeping Team Meetings Vibrant

Meetings can be the life-blood of an organisation or the... Read More

Prioritise Your Day - Keep Focus - Win!

Whether you run your own business or manage a team,... Read More

Setting Clearer Performance Expectations

The annual performance review.Stating this phrase guarantees some reaction for... Read More

How to get an Audiences Attention

A trainer dryly discussing how to motivate people in an... Read More

Creativity Management and Time Pressure

There is a pervasive belief that time pressure stimulates creativity.... Read More

Popular Business Misconceptions Cost You Money!

Faulty information costs you money! Which of these popular business... Read More

Planning a Productive Retreat

What value is there in leadership or team-building retreats? Just... Read More

Parenting Your Employees to Better Performance

Have you ever worked for someone who was such a... Read More

Small Business Outsourcing: An Introduction

Outsourcing is the delegation of a business process to an... Read More

Toxic Bosses

What's everyone's favorite topic around the water cooler? Bad bosses!... Read More

Building Trust in Your Business Relationships - 10 Steps

There are some simple things you can do with your... Read More