Tip # 49 Arrgh, here comes the collection bag again
Do you know how much time is wasted when people go around collecting money for things like birthdays and retirements? The actual celebration takes just as long. If you’re the manager of a department, tone down on the merry-making. Birthdays are meant to be intimate celebrations, not a means to procrastinate. Sign memos instead of hordes of birthday cards!
Tip # 50 Heap praise on a job well done
Employees thrive on positive feedback. A sincere compliment for a job well done is a strong motivator for employees to do even better next time. Be fair in granting salary increases. Promote an employee if he or she deserves it. Happy employees are good for the company’s profit and loss statement.
Tip # 51 And Cy Charney says…
Cy Charney wrote “The Instant manager” (American Management Association – AMACON, 2004) and his thesis was on how to become an effective manager. One of his recommendations was to respect the time of your team members, just as they do yours.
Mr. Charney said, “Don’t ask them to do things that others should be doing, unless it is an emergency. Don’t continuously interrupt them unless absolutely necessary. Let them complete each task.”
Tip # 52 If you’re stuck, ask
Instead of wasting time wracking your brain, be humble and approach a colleague even if she’s a subordinate. Say, “I’m running out of ideas, can you brainstorm with me?” or “I can’t solve this problem. Maybe you see something in it that I don’t?”
Procrastinating in asking for help won’t solve anything, but swallowing our pride can yield tremendous benefits. It makes your colleague feel good, and she can offer a fresh perspective on the problem.
