5 Questions to Ask Yourself as a Manager
By Arthur Cooper (c)
Copyright 2005
Here are five questions you should ask yourself if you are a
manager. Only if you can say ‘Yes’ to them all can you be sure of
being on the right track.
1.Are you in control?
This question concerns what you and your team are doing, not your
status in the team. You are giving the orders and they are
receiving them, that is true. But the real meaning of this
question lies elsewhere.
The real question to ask is this. Are you just reacting to events
as they occur or are you directing them? Are you solving problems
as they happen or are you anticipating and avoiding them? In
other words, are you reactive or proactive?
To achieve more, to be more effective, and to end up with the
results you want you need to be proactive. As a side effect you
will at the same time dramatically reduce your level of stress.
2.Are you sure of your goals?
Do you know where you and your team are headed? Are you sure of
what you should be doing? Do you really know what you are trying
to achieve? If you don’t know it is a certainty that your team
doesn’t know either.
Find out. Decide for yourself. Remove all doubts. Be one hundred
percent sure.
3.Is your team with you?
Do you have to drag your team with you where you want them to go
or are they willing to follow your lead? Have you convinced them
that your way is the best? Are they motivated? Indeed, are you
yourself sufficiently keen, motivated, and enthusiastic for it to
show and to rub off onto your team?
If you do need re-motivating and firing up, or if your team does
then it is your job as manager to see that it is done.
4.Are you visible?
What does this mean? Well, with very few exceptions in life you
need to be seen to be doing your job. Your colleagues need to
know what you do. Your boss needs to know what you do. Your
customers (anyone who uses your services) need to know what you
do. You can’t help others if they don’t know you are there to be
called on if the need arises.
So not just for your own well being but for that of others you
must be seen. You cannot shut yourself away in a corner and work
unseen if you are to useful.
Do a good job and be seen doing it. Everybody gains.
5.Are you relaxed?
To make good decisions you must be relaxed. You can’t take in all
the issues when you are stressed out. You can’t consider all the
possibilities when you are in panic mode.
The first step is to ensure that you can answer ‘Yes’ to the
preceding four questions, because the better you tackle the
issues raised the more effective you and all your staff will be.
The nearer you can get to overcoming the problems presented the
less stressed you will be.
By addressing these questions you will inevitably become more
relaxed. It will follow naturally. You will find that you are
that much closer to your work being a real pleasure. You will be
that much closer to success.
So ask yourself these questions and if you can’t honestly answer
‘Yes’ to them all start planning what you are going to do about
it. Then put your plan into action.
About the Author
Arthur Cooper is a business consultant, writer and publisher.
For his mini-course ‘Better Management’ go to:
http://www.barrel-publishing.com/bettermanagement.shtml