Management by Objectives

God believes in delegation and follow through. He expects leaders to manage. This is the right and responsible thing to do. If a job is to be done well, you as the leader, have to be a part of the process. Effective managers make expectations crystal clear. Clarity comes through repetition, hands on explanation, written instructions, and follow-up. It is important for team members to understand from different perspectives, how their role is critical in accomplishing the overall vision. Inspect the results you expect from them.

On-the-job training is also important so team members have the opportunity to watch you or someone else, complete the work with excellence. This gives the trainee an opportunity to ask questions and interact with the trainer. Avoid the temptation to hurry and not be thorough in hands-on training. Ineffective training costs you in the long run. It costs you time, money, frustration, and personnel turnover. So how can you, as a manager, grow and improve your management skills? How can you be a good example for the team?

First of all, make sure you are managed well. Invite your supervisor or board of directors to hold you accountable. You have a much better chance to manage well if you are managed well. Then have regular performance reviews. We perform better when others are watching. The review needs to be relational, specific, and results focused. Next, walk around among your team. Seek to understand each person’s role and what is expected, taking the time to follow up with tasks you have delegated. Follow through with your commitments, and you will maintain your moral authority to manage. Effective leaders manage in person, not in isolation. A recluse is a poor manager.

Lastly, challenge the management process. Do the systems of your enterprise facilitate or stifle management? In other words, do you get the proper data needed to evaluate a person or situation, or are you guessing and making assumptions not based on facts? Excellent managers produce processes that move toward the best results.

“Paul instructed Timothy in this way, ‘Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others’” (2 Timothy 2:1–2 nlt).

Prayer: How can I become a more effective manger and empower our team to manage well?

Related Readings: Exodus 18:17–26; Exodus 39:32; Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 6:1–7

Post/Tweet today: Effective leaders manage in person, not in isolation. A recluse is a poor manager. #wisdomhunters

Taken from the May 24th reading in Boyd’s 365-day devotional book, “Seeking Daily the Heart of God vol. 2” … http://bit.ly/Tv6y9a

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© 2014 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.