Its time for the people

`TAKE care of your people and they will take care you', I came across this pithy sentiment while leafing through a defence journal and it hit home that not many of the employees "put the people" before them.

They waste so much time writing e-mails, and conducting meetings, which serve no purpose, rather than coming out of their ivory towers and interacting with people. One uniformly common excuse is that there isn't enough time to either get to know the employees or lead them. My superior, an excellent communicator and administrator otherwise, often bemoans the fact that he does not find enough hours in the day to work on employee morale and their training and development. Most employees feel that they hands are full with their own work; so how do they find the time to invest in leading the employees to higher degree of productivity?

Think awhile

Have you ever thought of the matter from another perspective? If you provide the right leadership and direction to your team the less work you will have to do, at the same time making your people more able and productive. If you are the one struggling to get through your daily grind, then its not you guiding your employees! And the work of an ideal leader is to lead by example, not involve himself with the daily nitty gritties. Many companies have now refurbished the job descriptions of their managers who are expected to spend more and more time on employee development.

Though time management is the buzzword around any corporate office you enter, the truth is most of us at the working place are wrestling with time. We are stretched, stressed and drained as we try to get as much done as humanly possible. This is more so for workplace leaders. One of their limited resources, leaders not only have to manage their time well, but also make sure that the employees are doing so effectively.

Making a success of your business means being able to delegate responsibility and authority. Your job is to hire, develop and delegate to your employees so that they take over the daily workings while you concentrate on the bigger picture. Look to developing a team that can run the business successfully. Begin by sharing your vision of the company with the employees, so that they keep it in view when they have to take important decisions. Take the example of Intuit, an international financial- services giant.

Its CEO, Scott Cook shared his dreams for the company with every new employee. Twenty years after he had founded the company, it became the billion-dollar business, Cook had dreamed about. This was possible in no little way to the shared understanding between the committed employees and their Boss.

Find and make the time to lead. Keep your productive hours for the most important work of the day. Schedule your appointments and other less important pursuits to the end of this focused work period. This time slot could be used for helping the employees with their work, listening to their grievances etc.

This way a feeling of panic for a job not done need not overwhelm you.

Remember not to take up your employees' work for them if they have `messed up'. It is better to teach them how to get it done correctly.

In fact, though it may seem easier to correct it yourself, you'll end up doing the errant employee's work for as long ass he's around! Finally, try not to impose your work style on to them.

This way you may be forcing them to do things in a way with which they are not comfortable. Occasionally you can adjust your work style while permitting others to work in their preferred ways. Though you may be the boss/manager, it will only add to your credit if you make an effort to complement your style with theirs.

Make an effort to cultivate good employees... you will be amply rewarded- in time!

PADMA

padma.hyd@cnkonline.com