I remember receiving a call from a client who was concerned about a newly promoted staffer.
"Sam" was a star - technically proficient, reliable and competent, with an incredibly strong work ethic. When the previous manager left the company, it seemed obvious that Sam would be a natural in the role. Unfortunately, three months into the job, the team was not performing well and Sam could not seem to grasp all the varied elements of successful leadership.
The company didn't want to lose Sam - but it also knew that something had to change. Sam had never managed employees prior to his promotion, and the company's lack of training and documented procedures directly contributed to this dilemma.
Our client is not the only business facing this challenge - many companies do not invest in proper management training for newly promoted managers. In times of economic turmoil, training programs are often the first to be eliminated in an effort to cut costs. While this may seem like an easy fix, it's actually the wrong choice and one that reveals a lack of big-picture thinking. In fact, studies reveal that a majority of employees who receive training or mentoring say they are likely to remain with their current employer for the next five years or more.
What our client did not realize is that there were several options to improve Sam's management style. The company could invest in one-on-one coaching, professional development classes or other advanced certification. A cost-effective option would be to assign Sam some Business Operating Procedures and a mentor from senior management for regular and formal check-ins. Meanwhile, there are also many online libraries that provide interactive, individual curriculums based on what employees need to learn.
Our client also realized that while they worked to improve Sam's management style, they simultaneously needed to rely on others in his team - proven leaders within the company and even outside sources - for true leadership.
Business Operating Procedures can be used as textbooks in the training sessions.
The effectiveness of company leaders - from the CEO and down through individual department managers - is a crucial indicator of a company's success. Some of the core traits of a strong leader include:
*Can delegate but also knows when to step in. A leader empowers his or her team to work independently but is able to make the "big decisions" when necessary.
*Has a clear vision of the company and shares it with the team. Not only does this individual understand where the company is headed, he or she makes sure that everyone else understands it as well.
*Responds to employee leadership needs in a constructive manner. Not only will a leader try to steer others, but he or she knows the type of feedback that resonates best with each team member.
Yes, these are challenging times for business owners. But with more attention spent on motivating and keeping employees (the most critical part of any business), the true leaders will weather the storm with their employees at their side.
Training employees with Business Operating Procedures is a good place to start.
"Sam" was a star - technically proficient, reliable and competent, with an incredibly strong work ethic. When the previous manager left the company, it seemed obvious that Sam would be a natural in the role. Unfortunately, three months into the job, the team was not performing well and Sam could not seem to grasp all the varied elements of successful leadership.
The company didn't want to lose Sam - but it also knew that something had to change. Sam had never managed employees prior to his promotion, and the company's lack of training and documented procedures directly contributed to this dilemma.
Our client is not the only business facing this challenge - many companies do not invest in proper management training for newly promoted managers. In times of economic turmoil, training programs are often the first to be eliminated in an effort to cut costs. While this may seem like an easy fix, it's actually the wrong choice and one that reveals a lack of big-picture thinking. In fact, studies reveal that a majority of employees who receive training or mentoring say they are likely to remain with their current employer for the next five years or more.
What our client did not realize is that there were several options to improve Sam's management style. The company could invest in one-on-one coaching, professional development classes or other advanced certification. A cost-effective option would be to assign Sam some Business Operating Procedures and a mentor from senior management for regular and formal check-ins. Meanwhile, there are also many online libraries that provide interactive, individual curriculums based on what employees need to learn.
Our client also realized that while they worked to improve Sam's management style, they simultaneously needed to rely on others in his team - proven leaders within the company and even outside sources - for true leadership.
Business Operating Procedures can be used as textbooks in the training sessions.
The effectiveness of company leaders - from the CEO and down through individual department managers - is a crucial indicator of a company's success. Some of the core traits of a strong leader include:
*Can delegate but also knows when to step in. A leader empowers his or her team to work independently but is able to make the "big decisions" when necessary.
*Has a clear vision of the company and shares it with the team. Not only does this individual understand where the company is headed, he or she makes sure that everyone else understands it as well.
*Responds to employee leadership needs in a constructive manner. Not only will a leader try to steer others, but he or she knows the type of feedback that resonates best with each team member.
Yes, these are challenging times for business owners. But with more attention spent on motivating and keeping employees (the most critical part of any business), the true leaders will weather the storm with their employees at their side.
Training employees with Business Operating Procedures is a good place to start.
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