Achieving Management Success - Step #2

Our firm provides “Project Management Essentials for Non-Project Managers” Professional Development Training Engagements for profit and nonprofit organizations.  During these events, we share the Five Essential Components of Project Management Discipline.  In these interactive professional development experiences, we ask the attendees to identify the most important attributes of management success.  We further dive into the key actions and behaviors that drive success for managers and their teams.  After gathering the perspectives of the participants, we ask them for the specific steps that are critical for repeatable management success whether for projects or operational responsibilities.

During this exercise, we get many thoughtful answers about the key contributors to overall management success.  After a little guidance, the first step in the process is typically identified - to define a clear goal (qualitative result) or objective (quantitative result) for a team to achieve.  Absolutely, a clear and concise identification of a destination is critical so that every team member has a concrete understanding of what “done” looks like for the journey ahead.  That said, Step #2 in the process is often the one that many managers and executives struggle to execute most effectively.

Step #2 in the process of achieving management success is defining what “work” is for your staff or management team.  That’s it!  Something so foundational is often overlooked, and an inadequate amount of time is invested to execute this critical activity.  Providing “general direction” for a team is not enough to provide them with the clearest and most direct path to move from the results being achieved today to the desired results (goals or objectives).  Whether you are a manager or executive, your team members are looking for your talents and capabilities to define the major activities (“work”) required on the road to achieve success.

Through the experience in these training sessions, we are constantly reminded of the diligence, hard work and genuine desire for staff and managers to achieve results and success.  Their passion for wanting to make positive contributions and dedication to using their talents to help their teams are refreshing.  The candid reality is that many of them ultimately admit and show some frustration with not having clarity of what the actionable daily, weekly and monthly operational behaviors look like to effectively make consistent progress towards the team’s or organization’s goals and objectives.  They are working hard and being creative, but not exactly sure about how their work aligns with the expectations of their superiors.

So, what does Step #2 look like?  Taking an excerpt from overall Project Management discipline, defining “work” comprises documenting and communicating the “Critical Actions and Tasks” (CATs) that need to get executed.  Once the CATs are defined that will move your team effectively and most efficiently to the desired goals and objectives, then share them with your team.  Through this communication, you provide them focus - they don’t have to guess what is most important to accomplish and can direct their full attention to get these things done.  Additionally, you provide them with a framework to say “no” to other demands upon their time and attention; thus, retaining their valuable capacity to get the most important work accomplished to drive the fastest success of your team or organization. 

By the way, taking nothing away from the feline members of our households, if you ever hear me use the term “herding CATs”, then now you know the real meaning. 

To achieve consistent success for your team and organization, invest more mental time and skill on Step #2.  In addition to increasing your probability and pace of repeatable excellence, you elevate the engagement of your team and reduce their potential frustrations.  We welcome you to learn more about our Executive Coaching, Professional Development Training and other professional services by visiting enlightenedrtc.com.  If we can help you or your organization, then contact us and let’s talk.

by

Wayne Spooner, Managing Director
Enlightened Research, Training and Consulting, LLC