1. Communication: effective, two-way communication systems are the lifeblood of an organization and should be a top priority for managers.
2. Think strategically: decision-making should be based on the organization ’s overall aims and objectives.
3. Be creative: in times of change the need for innovation is high. You and your team should be ready to adapt to diverse situations quickly.
4. Inspire the team: managing your own time and workload effectively will provide an example of best practice to your team.
5. Show trust and confidence: research shows that individuals are motivated by managers who delegate effectively and do not micro-manage.
6. Say thank you: make sure your team know when they have exceeded your expectations or achieved good results.
7. Provide a clear sense of direction: your agenda for what the team needs to achieve should be clear and well communicated.
8. Be accessible: managers who are locked in an ivory tower and are out of touch with how their staff feel will find it difficult to get the best from their team.
9. Be honest and open: research shows that individuals respond better to managers who deliver relevant information in a straightforward and honest manner.
10. Get involved: showing you are willing to contribute where possible will break down barriers at all levels and help individuals realize their value to the wider success of the organization.
And for Fun ....
Daddy, how was I born? A little boy goes to his father and asks 'Daddy, how was I born?' The father answers, 'Well, son, I guess one day you will need to find out anyway! Your Mom and I first got together in a chat room. Then I set up a date via e-mail with your Mom and we met at a cyber-café. We sneaked into a secluded room, where your mother agreed to a download from my hard drive. As soon as I was ready to upload, we discovered that neither one of us had used a firewall, and since it was too late to hit the delete button, nine months later a little Pop-Up appeared that said:
Ready for this...
'You got Male!'