Managing and leading are fundamentally different, and honestly, I don’t think you can have one without the other. For this series, The Evolution: Management vs. Leadership, we explore the benefits and techniques that can be used to move from managing to leading, and why the success of your business demands that you work on it. There is a time and place for straight-forward management. Management, when coupled with effective leadership, will be a key to growth and success of your organization and employees.
By, Niki Ramirez, MBA/PHR/SHRM-CP
Last month in Part 1, I introduced the idea of the evolution from management to leadership, and discussed the fundamental differences between management and leadership. Great management and leadership skills go hand in hand. My thinking is in line with the adage, you need to walk before you can run. Without developing solid management skills, leadership growth isn’t actually possible.
Good management clears the path for progress and success.
Management is tactical and technical. You need to learn to execute efficiently and effectively in a variety of areas before you can grow into true leadership.
Good management is about getting the right things done at the right time. It clears the path for progress and success. Consider the terms that we often use in business that involve management: contract management, time management, project management, customer relationship management, just to name a few. Again, these activities each involve the concept of doing the right thing at the right time in order to keep thing moving forward.
In order to clear your path to successful leadership, consider these critical areas of management and ways you might increase your focus and level of success:
- Time Management
- Have and follow a daily schedule
- Set goals for the month, week and day and don’t stop until the deadline is UP (i.e, 11:59 on November 30th is the last opportunity to meet your November goals!)
- Resist the urge to say yes to everything. Don’t over-commit
- Choose and use a method for setting priorities to deal with unforeseen circumstances that might slow your progress with a given goal
- Detail Management
- Find and fully utilize your favorite planner
- Utilize a program like Evernote or PingPad
- File important documents and details in a cloud environment, like Google Docs, Google Calendar, etc.
- Learn to use all of the features included in your email program (like Outlook) to organize messages, tasks, project milestones and other appointments
- Contract Management
- Put important details and deliverable (with alerts) in your online calendar and make sure that your weekly to-do list includes checking on contract details.
- Process & Procedure Management
- Most organizations have written processes and procedures for a variety of functional areas. Update the procedures and processes that you’re responsible for on a monthly basis. Update this information no less than quarterly to ensure that training new team members is easy.
- Project Management
- Depending on the type of projects you’re involved in and/or lead, consider mapping out your project in a software program like Microsoft Project or an online solution like Spitfire (construction contracts).
- Milestones and deliverables should be adequately described, along with resources needed to accomplish tasks, and who is ultimately responsible for the work product.
- Relationship & Contact Management
- Make it a part of your day to touch base with people and build personal relationships with the to ensure you have a line of communication as needed to advance your shared goals.
- Manage your contact list on a monthly basis. Keep your contacts’ list updated with current email addresses, job titles and phone numbers so you can easily reach out as desired.
- In addition, make sure to follow-through on commitments which will build your contacts, clients and friends trust in you.
Management: “The organization and coordination of the activities of a business in order to achieve defined objectives.” Take care of managing your responsibilities in order to set yourself up for success as a leader!
Be sure to stop by again soon for the final part of this series as we explore the common traits and abilities that are shared by most, if not all, successful leaders, and how you can begin to hone your own leadership skills!
Are you ready to work on sharpening your management skills? Could you use a hand in organizing your tasks, projects or time. Contact us and let’s get started. That is all a part of talent management, as that’s what we do best! Let us help clear a path to success for you and your team!
About the author: Niki Ramirez is a seasoned professional consultant and coach with a knack for engaging business leaders. She has a successful track record partnering with a wide variety of organizations to analyze current human resources and business operations with the objective of designing cost-effective HR, training, and employee relations programs that help every organizations exceed their goals.
Maybe most importantly, Niki is the proud momma to three strikingly intelligent, gorgeous, funny kids. She loves to horseback ride and get outside to hike and explore the world every spare minute that she has.
