As the economy struggles more and more employers are  looking to downsize their workforce in order to cut back on costs. They figure that getting rid of employees is the best way to save money and are thinking about the present - where business is dwindling.

But what happens when business picks back up again? Will you have the workforce you need and - most important - will you be able to find the same high-quality help you let go just months earlier?

As a leader and manager you’ll be partially responsible for determining if layoffs are necessary and, if so, who has to go. I don’t know about you, but that’s not a situation I’d enjoy being in.

Instead you need to take some time to think about whether or not layoffs are really the answer to your problem. Start by projecting your future level of business. Are things progressively getting worse? Do you see a chance or opportunity for improvement on the horizon?

There are quite a number of options, aside from downsizing, that can help organisations to cut costs. They include:

• Reducing the hours of every individual within the organsiation or team.
• Reduce income. This sounds harsh but right now more people are happy to have a job and are less worried about seeing a decrease in pay. That’s not to say they’ll welcome it but the response may not be as bad as you think.
• Can you put employees on a temporary leave of absence that would allow them to keep their insurance benefits while they are “temporarily” laid off?
• Is it possible to offer voluntary layoffs to employees who may have already considered leaving or who are unhappy but were afraid to quit for financial or personal reasons?

You’ll be suprised at the number of options you really have when it comes to cutting costs without getting rid of your key employees. You might even want to ask your employees to brainstorm with you one day. Perhaps if they feel as though they were able to participate in the process they won’t react as negatively to the actions your organisation takes. It’s your job, especially as one in a leadership role, to make sure you’re making the right decision.

Thanks again,

Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Training

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

It’s pretty safe to say that throughout the course of my career I’ve had quite a number of experiences, both good and bad. As a leader, manager, and salesman I’ve had to learn how to work and communicate with people on many different levels. I took some time to think back on my own experiences and want to share four key lessons that I’ve learned and hope you can learn from as well.

First of all, you are your own best teacher. The number of continuing education classes and workshops you attend will not define you as a person. Your ability to further your own knowledge by doing research and then applying what you’ve learned will enable you to teach yourself how to implement the things you’ve been shown.

Second, a good leader accepts responsibility for his actions and blames no-one else. Ever. We are all human and we all make mistakes. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying. A true leader recognises his own faults and takes responsibility for them instead of placing the blame on someone else. Did one of your team members make a mistake? If so, should you blame him or wonder if there was a problem with the training you gave him that caused him to make the mistake?

Next, recognize that you can learn anything you want to learn. Never feel as though you are stuck in a position or situation due to a lack of knowledge. There are enough classes, telecourses, and web resources available today for anyone on earth to learn just about anything. You have to find those resources and use them.

Finally, true understanding comes from your ability to reflect on the experiences you’ve had. A concept you may not have fully understood earlier in life may suddenly become clearer after you’ve had your own experiences. Your mental knowledge suddenly turns into wisdom.

Hopefully you’ll be able to start your week off by taking the time to reflect on your own experiences as a leader. How have you grown and evolved over the years? Have you learned anything about yourself?

Thanks again,

Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Course

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

As a manager in a leadership position you may find yourself constantly struggling with the idea that you need to keep everyone happy all the time. Perhaps you’re worried that if your employees or coworkers aren’t happy they won’t do their jobs or their deadlines won’t be met. As such, some managers seem to get a little bit soft in their leadership - trying to hard to be friends with everyone and forgetting that they’re actually in charge of the group.

There are four main skills a fearless leader needs to have. They include:

• The ability to speak the truth when it needs to be heard, regardless of whether or not the listeners will agree (and the skill to speak the truth tactfully);
• The ability to encourage team members to express their differing opinions while encouraging debate;
• The ability to listen (and listen well); and
• The ability to accept the fact that failure is a possible outcome.

You can, of course, have all of these skills, have a functional team, and still be on friendly terms with every member of your team. You should be working as a unit but your projects and goals should always be your main focus.

Are they? Or have things gotten out of control?

Today I want you to take a look at your team structure and decide whether or not you need to step up your leadership skills. Are you ready to fearlessly take your team to the next level?

Thanks again,
Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Training Course

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

It’s one thing to be the manager of a department or workgroup, but it takes a very special person to be a leader. While popular sayings would have you believe that leaders are born and not made, I do believe it’s possible for anyone with desire to learn how to be an effective leader.

That said, there are a few things every good leader needs to have in order to be effective.

The first is a set of great creative skills. You need to be creative in order to generate new ideas. Being creative doesn’t mean you have to be ready to pull a new idea out of your back pocket at the drop of a hat, though. It means being able to find resources and find ways to effectively implement them in an appropriate manner.

Analytical skills are essential to your success as well. If you’re presented with a group of ideas you’ll need to be able to look at them and use a certain set of criteria to determine which ideas are good, which are not, and which merely need a bit of improvement.

Finally, the development of your practical skills is incredibly important. Your practical skills will give you the ability to take the ideas you’ve developed, implement them, and convince your team and others that they are both effective and valuable.

Put these three skills together and you’ll have the tools you need to be a dynamite leader. It will take time to perfect your skills, but in the end you’ll appreciate the effort you’ve put into developing your own leadership potential.

Thanks again,

Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Training

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

Anyone can be a leader - at least the kind that tells other people what to do. It takes a truly special person, however, to be the kind of leader that others want to follow. In order to be successful as a manager you should be the kind of leader your employees and team members look up to.

Here are a few things you should keep in mind as you develop your leadership potential:

5. Lead Yourself

Anyone can give out orders, but not everyone can follow his own. A “do as I say, not as I do” type of attitude will not endear you to your employees. Practice what you preach and your team members will follow.

4. Participate

A good leader doesn’t sit back and do nothing while his team members do all the work. Great leaders play an important role in the planning and execution of any plan. You’ve taken the time to build a great team - now take the time to work with them.

3. Listen

Just because you’re the leader doesn’t mean you have the only (or best) ideas. Listen to the feedback your team members give you and take it into consideration as you plan your next project. Taking advice from your team members doesn’t mean you’re incompetent. It means you’re open to new thoughts and ideas.

2. Commit Yourself to the Company Goals

You shouldn’t expect your employees to be loyal to the organisation if you’re not. Take a look at your company’s goals, objectives, and mission statement. Are you working towards meeting those goals with every action? If not, reevaluate the impression you’re sending to your team.

1. Learn from Your Mistakes

No one is perfect. We all learn from our mistakes and move on. Accept that you are not immune to error just because you’re in a leadership position. As a matter of fact, use your mistakes as a learning experience for your team.

Remember, your subordinates are watching you at all times. It’s not what you do, but the way you handle yourself that they’re going to focus on the most. Are you prepared?

Thanks again,

Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Training

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