Ethics should be a way of life – not a conscious decision made on a case by case basis. As a newer manager you may have trouble determining what is standard proceedure versus what procedures are ethical. If you exercise just a bit of self discipline you will find that every decision you make is the most ethical possible.

So how do you develop that type of self discipline?

5. Understand the Rules

Your organisation probably has an entire manual outlining company rules, regulations, policies, and operating proceedures. You don’t have to memorise them all from the start but you should make it a point to understand how things work and what the rules are before making any decisions. If you check the rules you won’t make an unethical mistake.

4. Accountability

Take responsibility for your actions, behaviour, and – of course- for your mistakes. Trying to cover up your mistakes or blaming them on someone else will only make the situation worse when, in reality, upper management only wants to hear someone say they’re sorry and that they’ll fix the problems.

3. Address Your Bad Habits

Are you someone who usually stretches the truth when its convenient? Are you the type of person who can easily come up with a creative interpretation of any rule in order to justify his behaviour? If so, STOP. There’s no such thing as semi-ethical. You either are or you aren’t.

2. Be Reliable

If you say you’ll finish something within a specified time frame, do so. Keep the promises you make, finish your tasks in their entirety, and set a great example for your team. The art of dependability seems to be lost these days but the most dependable people are usually the most ethical and honest.

1. Avoid Peer Pressure

Just because you are attempting to be an ethical manager doesn’t mean your peers on the same level of management are attempting to do the same things. Don’t let the things they do influence you and try to avoid or minimize ethical conflicts. Know your priniciples and stick to them.

Thanks again,

Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Training Course

Click below for a:
Free email course “Improve your Management Skills”

Last week, when we began discussing the various components of the decision making process, I mentioned that one of the attributes a manager needed to have when making decisions was tunnel vision (or, really, a lack thereof).

Think of it this way – a tunnel is very narrow. When you’re in a tunnel you have very few options – either back up or move forward to find the nearest exit. Decision making, when done with tunnel vision, is very similar. Managers with tunnel vision find that they have very few alternatives to choose from when it’s time to make the final decision.

Why would a manager have tunnel vision? He might be biased towards or against a situation. He may also have a limited frame of reference, or experience, from which to draw from. He may be completely unfamiliar with the situation to begin with, making it difficult for him to even think of different alternatives.

Do you have tunnel vision? If so, what will you do to change the way you see things?

Thanks again,
Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Training Courses

Click below for a:
FREE email course “Improve Your Management Skills”

One of the best decision making skills you can acquire is the ability to properly time your actions. The fact that you have a dozen different decisions to make shouldn’t cause you to rush them. Even the best decision can become an utter failure if timed incorrectly.

Imagine for a moment that you are the owner of a huge chain of coffee shoppes. As your chain grows in popularity, a myriad of small coffee shoppes are popping up, hoping to compete with you. You know that this will continue to happen but your chain has a very strong brand. In response to the competition, you decide to open 200 additional stores around the country and begin focusing on opening stores in other countries as well. Before you know it, you’ve beaten your competition to the punch and are now situated strongly in almost every area your competition might want to open a store.

Of course, you probably aren’t responsible for determining when to open a huge chain of stores but you’ll have similarly important situations. Making properly-timed decisions isn’t rocket science. As a matter of fact, if you put the decision making skills you already have to work you’ll find that determining when to release your best decisions isn’t as tough as you thought it might be.

Thanks again,
Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Training

Click below for a:
FREE email course “Improve Your Management Skills”

You’ve probably heard the phrase “when it rains, it pours” before. Unfortunately, when it comes to making decisions it’s usually feast or famine. You either have nothing to do or you’re faced with a dozen important decision at the same time.

It’s important to prioritise when it seems like you have a myriad of decisions to make all at once. You have a few choices when it comes to the order in which you’ll make your decisions.

• You might prioritise the decisions based on which will have the greater outcome on your overall goals;
• You might prioritise based on how you think your own manager might respond;
• You might decide to prioritise your decisions based on your own likes and dislikes.

In most cases it won’t matter how you prioritise your tasks as long as you get them done. Some decisions are more difficult to make and, sadly, that fact will lead some managers to procrastinate – an ineffective move that won’t help the department or organisation as a whole. Make your toughest decisions first and the rest will be a breeze.

Thanks again,
Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Manager Training

Click below for a:
FREE email course “Improve Your Management Skills”

I’ve found over the course of my career that there are three main types of decision making models or methods a manager will use when attempting to make a decision. While every individual manager will follow his own process, all tend to follow into one of the three following categories:

• Rational/Logical Decision Making
• Intuitive Decision Making
• Predisposed Decision Making

Managers who follow the rational or logical decision making model tend to gather facts, thoroughly examine situations, and make logical decisions based on all that they know on a given subject. He does as much research as possible and leaves nothing to chance. This is the most recommend method of decision making for those in management positions.

Intuitive decision making involves not the use of statistics and data but a manager’s gut feelings. While this method isn’t necessarily bad it can lead to disaster as one’s gut, or instinct, should never be the sole factor in the decision making process. It’s better to use past experiences, insight, and statistics together to make the right choice.

The worst decision making model is the predisposed method. A manager will make a snap decision based on his personal preferences and opinions and will work to find data that backs up what he wants to do, regardless of whether or not his decision is actually right. He tends to ignore important information merely because it doesn’t support his agenda.

It’s important for you to identify what type of decision making model you usually follow. Is the one you’re using most effective? Do you tend to act in a predisposed manner? Figure out where you stand on the decision making grid and then decide if you need to make a change. The future of your department may depend on it.

Thanks again,
Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Courses

Click below for a:
FREE email course “Improve Your Management Skills”