I shall assume that the majority of us have worked for someone (i.e. a Manager).

And no doubt some of those Managers you worked for were great and some should…well let’s just say…should never have been appointed Managers.

There are numerous skills to being a Manager…communicating, delegating, controlling, co-ordinating, staff management, public speaking, decision making, managing meetings…and I could list many, many more.

But what makes a Great Manager?

Is Obama a great Manager?

Great Managers not only excel at some of the above skills but they fundamentally know the difference between ‘inputs’, ‘outputs’ and ‘outcomes’.

They take ‘inputs’ (i.e. what they do, what action taken) and ‘outputs’ (i.e. the effect of the action, the product) and create outcomes (i.e. the intended result, the performance or service targeted).

Great Managers take time out and think about ‘outcomes’.

Great Managers strive for ‘outcomes’.

Great Managers plan for ‘outcomes’.

Great Managers organize themselves and others to produce ‘outcomes’.

Great Managers implement the right and appropriate controls so the ‘outcomes’ are delivered.

Great Managers communicate and discuss the future ‘outcomes’.

So let’s take a simple example…

Many Managers at this time of year are thinking, planning, organising, controlling and communicating the staff annual performance review.

So the inputs may be…the individuals previous achievements, feedback from customers and peers, any development undertaken, objectives, written evidence of praise…

Outputs being…the actual written performance review, the staff members rating and future development needs, the following years objectives.

Many Managers stop there. That’s it. It’s over and done with. The review is typed up. The staff member has agreed with their written performance review and it gets filed away. Now we can carry on with our day jobs.

The Great Manager will be encouraging the individual to strive for major change in their performance (the ‘outcome’) as a result of the performance review.

Great Managers will work with the individual and put in place a plan to enable the individual to ‘grow’ in their role.

Great Managers organize themselves and the staff member to have the time to develop their learning, maybe go on some self-improvement courses.

Great Managers will implement monthly one-to-ones with the individual to discuss and amend their improvement plan.

Great Managers will ‘paint a picture’ of the future for the individual.

In fact, before the performance review Great Managers will have answers to the following questions:

What difference will the review make?

What would we like the staff member to do differently?

How will the difference be measured and monitored?

How will the department or company benefit?

What controls should be in place to monitor progress?

How will we know if the progress is successful?

Give yourself every opportunity to succeed as a Manager and start thinking about ‘outcomes’.

Tags: US

When was the last time you visited a high street coffee shop?

In the last 5 minutes?

In the last hour?

Yesterday?

Last week?

Last month?

Never?

Over the last 10 years coffee shops are one of the fastest growing retailers.

More and more are being established.

I know in my local town whenever a shop closes, it often re-opens as a coffee franchise. Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Tchibo, Nero…there are many to choose from.

And no matter how many there are in each town, you always have to queue. So many people are now finding the time and money to have a coffee with friends. Relax a bit, have a good gossip and simply enjoy each other’s company.

Or maybe, you go there to work on the free wi-fi offering.

I’m lucky enough to live by the sea and often my wife and I go out for a cup of coffee overlooking the sea. You know spur of the moment thing.

“Fancy a coffee?”

“Yes, I’ll put the kettle on”

“No, let’s go to Costa’s”

“Great idea…”

A few years ago you would never have guessed we would pay $3 or $4 for an ordinary cup of coffee. But we all do, don’t we?

This weekend just gone, we decided to take a visit into town just for a cup of coffee.

“We’ll go to…”

“Yeah, sounds good”

When we arrived we changed our minds on where to go.

We saw a ‘better’ coffee shop open.

So what do you look for in your favourite coffee shop?

What makes you go back time and time again?

Some would say – “simply good tasting coffee”

Others would say – “a wide selection of great tasting coffees and cakes”

Others want -  “a wide selection of great tasting coffees and cakes plus well trained staff, a smile and an efficient service, maybe with free wi-fi”

What about – “a wide selection of great tasting coffees and cakes plus well trained staff, a smile and an efficient service with free wi-fi and they know your name”

Which statement would make you give 10 out of 10?

My wife and I go to relax, so the following is important to us:

1.    A nice comfy sofa
2.    Great tasting coffee
3.    A good selection of cakes to choose from
4.    Service with a smile

And if we can see by the window ‘people watching’, even better.

That’s it – we are easily pleased. But so many coffee shops just don’t provide all 4 of our needs. They may just offer points, 2, 3 and 4 but point 1 is so important!

Or 1, 2 and 3, but point 4 is also important to us!

So what do you look for in a coffee shop for you to go back time and time again?

I wrote this post in under 7 minutes (from scratch) using Robert Plank’s latest product…Time Management On Crack

Tags: money, time and money, US

Public speaking is a challenge in itself, let alone being effective at it. However, if you are going to make a speech you should strive to make it an effective one.

In London’s Hyde Park you can just get up
and speak about any subject you wish!

Public speaking is both an art and a science. There are specific steps that can be taken to command attention and results. A scientific means of presenting your speech will have a lasting effect on your audience.

The following is a precise procedure that will enable you to make an impact in the lives of those listening to your speech.

First and foremost be properly prepared.

Do your home work!

Make sure that you have content and that your content is worth knowing. Once you have completed ample research for your topic familiarise yourself with the material.

An absolute must is that your topic is presenting only one main idea.

Your whole speech will be arguing for this one specific topic. If you have more than one idea you take the chance that your listeners will not remember what you said.

One way to know whether or not you have a proper grasp on your subject is, “Could you have a Q&A session after your speech and adequately answer their questions”?

Next, you will want to organise your findings in a logical sequence.

It must flow for your audience to be interested, understand, and retain it. Your organisation of your points should continuously support the big idea. Providing evidence and reasoning are a strong part of the persuasive process!

Once you have completed the previous tasks you are well on your way to an effective speech.

Now, it is time to consider going to the podium to present your message.

Write out your opening and closing remarks.

You want to be sure that you know how you are going to get started and how you will end. I don’t suggest that you write out your whole speech, but do write out these two areas.

At this time you should have the opening remarks on paper, the outline of the message, and the ending written out.

Now begin to practice your speech.

Determine if you are able to complete the speech within the allotted time given and/or you have enough material to take up the time frame.

People love real life stories!

At this point you have a feel for the speech, now, it is time to add some illustrations or life stories to each point. Illustrations will enable your audience to relate to your subject and remember it. After you have added your life stories practice it again to get a feel for your speech and to check the timing again.

You are ready to present your message.

If possible take only one sheet of paper with you. If you take too many notes you will have a tendency to read or pay too much attention to your notes.

Speak, don’t read.

Present your material in a conversational manner, but be sure to speak up so that everyone is able to hear you. Speak to the furthest person away from you.

Ensure that you are giving the whole audience eye contact. It is not necessary to look everyone in the eye, but you must be scanning them so that they get a feel that you are conversing with them.

It is time to wait for the results of your presentation!

Tags: research

Just found this on YouTube.com. Very inspiring…everyone jumping for joy…and all for one courageous individual. Hope you like it…hope it inspires you…

Tags: US

During my ‘on-line’ life I have established a vast number of friends and colleagues, one of which is Adam Wong.

Adam Wong is a typical example of how anyone, regardless or age and experience can realize their dreams if they simply just use the right strategies and take massive action.

In his early years, he invested in himself and attended several ‘Wealth’ programs.

But Adam
didn’t do what 99% of individuals do when they finish learning about a
topic. He did what only 1% of the population do…he took took massive
action and applied everything he’d been taught.

He did
not hesitate at all. He decided that he did not want to get stuck in a
normal 9am-5pm job like everyone else and eventually decided that he
would become an entrepreneur as an Internet Marketer.

When he applied himself wholeheartedly, the results he got were truly inspiring. Within two weeks of launching his business, he generated US$10,011 worth of sales.
Within a year and a half, he hit a record US$21,154 a month in
December. He continued to build his online business until today, it
generates a six figure income while he just works four hours a day from his home.

All his friends call him a LUCKY BASTARD to have such a great life with a great income. So,
he decided to write a book (which honestly is a VERY GOOD READ) to
teach people exactly how he did it and how anyone can achieve the same
success he has on the Internet.

A few months a go, Adam gave me a ‘draft’ copy of his book to read. I couldn’t put it down. I know Internet Marketers who charge $2,000 a month to tell you the same stuff as what Adam has included in his book, Lucky Bastard!

And right now, Adam is giving you the chance to download the first chapter right here:

http://www.greatmanagement.org/luckyb.html

Although I will say that Adam is a LUCKY BASTARD (he won’t mind me saying that!), he is also a very clever one.

Read more about my thoughts on Adam’s new book:

http://www.greatmanagement.org/luckyb.html

Article source: http://www.webuildyourblog.com/53/the-lucky-bastard/

Tags: business, Internet