Effective Management

Workplace Legislation

Australia’s landscape is changing with the effect of new workplace legislation; companies operating on a global level; advances in technology (in particular the internet changing the way we do business); and our ongoing skills shortage forcing employers to look at different employment options, such as employing people with a disability, indigenous people, single parents, young people through apprenticeships, and mature-aged workers.According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over the next 10 years, people aged over 45 years will represent half of the growth in the labour market. These all represent new challenges to managers, many of whom may be younger than their staff.As the nature of the workplace changes and the business world becomes more competitive and demanding, managers need to ask themselves what is the best strategy to pursue. “Research may suggest that the most effective approach is to be seen to be nice and accept the benefits that this impression brings, but behind the scenes behave in a ruthless and mean way,” Onsman believes. “For most managers, it is far simpler to do what they feel is right.” While there is a glut of information to assist and sometimes send managers into an information-overload spin, ultimately, says MacDonald, it’s about establishing “ground truth” in an organisation. “They need to have conversations that build relations to help them understand what makes these individuals tick and how they fit into the whole scheme of things in the organisation. Managers need to draw on each other’s unique experiences, to consolidate this knowledge, and where possible improve on handling situations.“Focusing on teamwork, self-empowerment, quality programs and management by objectives can only be achieved by harnessing the skills of your staff.” And so, it is appropriate that we conclude with this statement from the ‘father of management’, author and management guru, the late Peter Drucker: “I would hope that American managers—indeed managers worldwide—continue to appreciate what I have been saying since day one: Management is so much more than exercising rank and privilege, it’s so much more than ‘making deals.’ Management affects people and their lives, both in business and many other aspects as well. The practice of management deserves our utmost attention; it deserves to be studied.”   

Keys to Good Management

• •          Integrity—be honest with everyone no matter what the circumstances.
• •          Articulate the organisation’s vision and goals in a clear and precise manner.
• •          Display a sense of trustworthiness even when all odds are against you.
• •          Communicate clearly both within the team and to other parts of the organisation using  the power
•            of language to convey your ideas, messages, and information without resorting to platitudes,
•            clichés and jargon.
• •          Show interest in your staff and create a favourable environment and culture for everyone to
•            work in. Be empathetic. Focus on training but not training for its own sake.
• •          Support, coach, direct and delegate to your staff depending on the skills of each staff member.
•            Continually encourage and motivate, recognise achievement, and reward individuals where
•            appropriate, making staff feel worthwhile in their roles.
• •          Adhere to values and behaviours and view these as critical elements.
• •          Realise that you are not superhuman, that you have strengths and weaknesses, and that you
•            need to tap into the skills set around you.
• •          Build on relationships based on conversations that are mainly face-to-face so that it builds a
•            culture.