09 Mar Changing Management Styles to Compliment New Ways of Working
Hand-in-hand with the ongoing evolution of work styles comes to the need for an observant and maturing management ideology.
With technology rapidly freeing workers from the traditional boxy office cubicle complete with an ample number of watchful bosses per square metre, managers must exchange directives for objectives¸ placing the emphasis where it belongs; on an outcome, not on a process.
Like a seasoned coach, it is imperative that managers invest heavily in employee training and cultural specification within the organisation.
Managers must turn their time to envisaging, identifying and solidifying goals and subsequently equip staff with the skills, knowledge and supervised experience to deliver and to do so independent of hovering, nay-saying and micromanagement.
Visionary managers will be team focussed, non-hierarchical, and understand the intrinsic value and potential to be unlocked through the recognition and nurture of diversity within their staff. Investing time in understanding their employees, whether they are remote, contract, freelance or otherwise, allows savvy managers the opportunity to harness the combined strengths of their team and guide them to success.
As in all team behaviour models, managers must ‘walk the walk’, dedicating themselves to fostering an environment promoting clarity of vision, of communication, of culture and strategy.
Most importantly, and often the most difficult step for (micro) managers, is to ensure that once you have equipped your team, you step back at game time and allow them the freedom to play, and to succeed.
Travis Foster, Principal
