Boy, how times have changed! We were discussing the Sinclair C5 in the office this week and many here had never even heard of it, let alone seen one!

Launched during a by-gone age (1985!), it became an object of media and popular ridicule during 1980s Britain and was a commercial disaster, selling only around 17,000 units, although according to Sinclair, it was “the best selling electric vehicle” until November 2011 when the Nissan Leaf had sold over 20,000 units.

Ah, 1985. What was management like in those days? Well, many managers could get away with what today would be decidedly un-PC behaviour and get rid of people almost on a whim.

How have management techniques changed over the years? That was the subject of our discussions after we had had a few giggles at the C5′s expense.

And we reckon we have come up with today’s management ideas in a nutshell.

Your job as manager today is to create a climate that encourages and values the contribution of each person to the team effort. Your people’s energies should be directed towards problem solving, task effectiveness and achievement of your goals. Your energies should be directed at providing the best possible conditions that allow your people to contribute effectively.

Quite a change, I’m sure you’ll agree. Better, as well? We think so.

How do you encourage people? How do you make sure their energies help you achieve your goals? How do you provide the conditions for people to grow and thrive?

Today’s manager simply has to be a good leader as well. Management skills refer to the hard skills that are necessary to get the job done. Leadership involves the softer skills that builds on the ideas people have, deals with the resistors they come up with, and gains the buy-in that is necessary to allow people to motivate themselves to achieve the goals you need to hit.

A far cry from those halcyon days when Clive Sinclair ruled the electronic vehicle world. Tell the truth, not sure if I could actually have fitted in one!

Thanks again

Nick

Nick Hill

Training Director

MTD Management Training Course

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

No matter what career path you’ve chosen, as a professional you need to have a clear understanding of exactly what steps you’ll take in order to further enhance your capacity for success. In doing so, you must create what is known as a professional development cycle.

The development cycle you create will include five main phases. Each phase will be as detailed as you wish depending on what goal you are trying to achieve. The development cycle pertains not only to your overall life and career but to individual goals as well.

The five phases include:
• Identifying your goals,
• Determining what skills you need to obtain those goals,
• Making a plan to achieve those skills,
• Properly recording the information you learn, and
• Reviewing your progress regularly.

The more you learn the better your chances of moving forward on a successful and stable career path. You need to do as much as possible to ensure that both you and your employees are getting as much management and leadership training as possible while at the same time ensuring each individual is able to focus on his personal goals as well.

Have you been able to incorporate the development cycle into your management training routines? How do you ensure proper balance between personal professional development and the development of the company as a whole?

Thanks again,
Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Training

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