Joe and Wanda on Management

In his book, Monday Morning Leadership, David Cottrell indicates that a manager’s scorecard is the result of what the team does. “You get paid for what your subordinates do, not necessarily what you do.”

He also makes the point in another way… “You need your team more than your team needs you.”

Thoughts, Joe and Wanda?

Joe Kerr: That’s debatable, but I‘ll tell you what, I need a vacation much more than they do!

Wanda B. Goode:Too often managers are really individual performers that manage team members on the side. That’s not the way to maximize team productivity. It can be difficult to let go of the tasks that have defined you for years. As a manager, though, your time is much better spent tending to your team members. They are the ones that do the work.

Here are a couple of related posts…

Great Leaders Serve and Support Their Organizations
Leaders Need to be Teachers

Kevin Oakes is our guest for this Management Tips podcast. Kevin is CEO of i4cp. He also just published a book called, The Executive Guide to Integrated Talent Management. Kevin advises managers to do an audit of their direct reports to see if they’d be eligible for re-hire. Listen in to find out more.

 

 Kevin Oakes' Management Tip [10:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In chapter 12 of the new book, The Executive Guide to Integrated Talent Management, Beverly Kaye suggests that managers have stay interviews with their team members. What are stay interviews? Here’s an excerpt from the book explaining how one might be conducted…

I probably haven’t told you this often enough, but you are important to this team and to me. I can’t imagine losing you. I know we’ve been through a rough time lately, and I want you to know how much I appreciate all you’ve done and the way you’ve done it. I’d like you to know that I want you to hang in here. I’d like to know what you want next. What do you want to learn? What career goals are you thinking about? What can I do to help you reach those goals? I’d like to know what will keep you here. And I’d like to know what could entice you away.

Thoughts, Joe and Wanda?

Joe Kerr: I have lots more “I-can’t-believe-I’m-saying-this-but-you-can-Stay-Interviews.” That’s where I berate team members for imbecilic blunders, but I can’t fire them because it’s too much of a hassle to replace them, and at least I know what I’ve got.

Wanda B. Goode: People like to feel appreciated. They like to know that they are making meaningful contributions. Talks like this are one way to let them know that they are valued. Beats having an exit interview any day.

Here are a couple of related posts…
Stay Interview: What, Why, and How?
The Stay Interview

Jason Seiden hosts the August, 2011 Leadership Development Carnival at his site. Sample the dozens of management and leadership articles posted this month.