Spring is in the air, and thoughts turn to spring cleaning. (Well some do!) It is a time of new birth. In work, it is an ideal time to clean out the ‘habits’ cupboard. As Mahatma Gandhi once said:
“Your beliefs become your thoughts
Your thoughts become your words
Your words become your actions
Your actions become your habits
Your habits become your values
Your values become your destiny”
When we are so busy in life, it is important to find time to step back and review where we are choosing to take ourselves. Here is a time to re-evaluate our beliefs, thoughts and actions. All of these things impact on how we behave as a manager, and the influence we have on our team; especially when we are under pressure.
Over the last few years, when it has been an employee’s market, people voted with their feet if there was poor management. We began to see improved leadership and management skills as a result. Now it has reverted to an employer’s market, and people are under pressure to perform to tight margins, my concern is we will see old habits and values return.
The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For 2009 highlighted that the most successful companies engage with their people and show high qualities of leadership and social concern. However, some of the biggest falls in scoring over the last year shows managers doing more telling than listening, are less supportive, are less open and honest, are doing less to help people fulfill their potential; and care less about how satisfied people are in their jobs. If this is happening in the best companies to work for, what is happening elsewhere? www. bestcompanies.co.uk
Now is the time to take stock of your key management abilities to ensure you are achieving the best from yourself and your team. We have arranged a series of four workshops on Management Matters. These will be at six week intervals and will address time, communication, negotiation and performance issues. Please see upcoming events for details. The good news is that there is Train to Gain funding available, so you could get all 4 workshops for FREE. Find out more at www.traintogain.gov.uk/helping your business/eligible/
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