“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by obstacles which he has overcome”. Booker T.Washington
While good morale induces voluntary contribution of efforts for the betterment of the organisation, bad morale breeds grievances and frustation, and induces lack of interest in contributing to that goal.
Importance of Immediate Boss
Discussions with several employees who have left their job midway point out one prime factor responsible for their decision — their immediate boss. While nine out of ten persons expressed displeasure with treatment meted out by thier immediate boss, other reasons advanced are insufficient monetary incentives, poor working conditions, unfavourable organisational climate, etc., which could be termed as complemenary factors.
Instances of employees who quit even organisations that are financially sound, follow good H R practices and offer the best financial and non-financial incentives to their employees only prove that if one is not in good terms with his immediate boss, it affects his morale more than anything else, forcing him to leave the organisation. Because if the immediate boss is one who finds fault with everything and rebukes the employees every now and then, hurting the employees’ self-respect, one cannot put up with such a boss for long.
Need for Effective Manager
A talented employee may join a company because of its charismatic leader, its genourous benefits and world class training programmes, but how long that employee stays and how productive he is while he is there is determined by his relationship with immediate supervisor. Given this importance of boss/manager, is it not important that what the organisation requires is not simply managers but effective managers, who help their subordinates realise their goals and in the process better their own records by accomplishing organisational goals?
A question may arise as to what is so special about an effective manager?
- He inspires to think big and think profitably.
- He is open to new ideas and suggestions
- He points out the deep concentration required to finish a task
- He encourages curiosity and learning.
Effective managers induce certain truths, beliefs and values of the organisation in the simplest ways possible leaving a lasting image in the minds of employees.
A. Getting Inspiration
An effective manager likes all kinds of people with their diverse skills and aptitudes and likes to work. He is forward-looking with clear and friendly eyes and enjoys bettering his records. Further, he likes to set goals and solve problems because he is stimulated by these challenges and becomes better and better at it. He likes to help others realise their goals and nurture his own understanding and discrimination by reflecting on his own and others experiences.
The opposite of an effective manager is always oppressed, overburdened and carries his problems around, instead of solving them. He is wary of change and cannot lead others. Further, he has no time for others and make others feel tired and unhappy.
B. Wisdom
An effective manager reminds that there is no direct path and one to turn right and left to become honestly able to seperate the wheat from the chaff. One must subject all experiences to scrutiny to determine what is essential and what is not essential. This is a critical aspect of judgement. The discerning and the wise do what they must and let the rest be.
C. Focused approach
They should be there in the right place at the right time. They need to be having a focused approach, and attending to the tasks ahead, smoothening the process for their followers to achieve their goals.
D. Written and Communication skills
Effective managers as speakers or liseners they must understand and cogitate deeply on the implications of spoken and written words. Further, good writing and good communication is possible only when thinking is clear and understanding is deep.
E. Problem solving and Thinking skills
Effective managers always needed some quick thinking. They could analyse the situation (SWOT analysis) to realise the constraints in subject matter of their thinking process.
Again, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by obstacles which he has overcome”. An effective manager meets them head on and converts perceived disadvantages into advantages.
Winners are too busy to be sad
Winners are too positive to be doubtful
Winners are too optimistic to be fearful, And
Too determined not to be defeated
Sree's blog on better management 