5 Questions to Ask Yourself as a Manager

by Arthur Cooper

Published on this site: April 11th, 2005 - See more articles from this month...

Here are five questions you should ask yourself if you are a manager. Only if you can say `Yes' to them all can you be sure of being on the right track.

1. Are you in control?
   
   This question concerns what you and your team are doing, not your status in the team. You are giving the orders and they are receiving them, that is true. But the real meaning of this question lies elsewhere.
   
   The real question to ask is this. Are you just reacting to events as they occur or are you directing them? Are you solving problems as they happen or are you anticipating and avoiding them? In other words, are you reactive or proactive?
   
   To achieve more, to be more effective, and to end up with the results you want you need to be proactive. As a side effect you will at the same time dramatically reduce your level of stress.
   
   
2. Are you sure of your goals?
   
   Do you know where you and your team are headed? Are you sure of what you should be doing? Do you really know what you are trying to achieve? If you don't know it is a certainty that your team doesn't know either.
   
   Find out. Decide for yourself. Remove all doubts. Be one hundred percent sure.
   
   
3. Is your team with you?
   
   Do you have to drag your team with you where you want them to go or are they willing to follow your lead? Have you convinced them that your way is the best? Are they motivated? Indeed, are you yourself sufficiently keen, motivated, and enthusiastic for it to show and to rub off onto your team?
   
   If you do need re-motivating and firing up, or if your team does then it is your job as manager to see that it is done.
   
   
4. Are you visible?
   
   What does this mean? Well, with very few exceptions in life you need to be seen to be doing your job. Your colleagues need to know what you do. Your boss needs to know what you do. Your customers (anyone who uses your services) need to know what you do. You can't help others if they don't know you are there to be called on if the need arises.
   
   So not just for your own well being but for that of others you must be seen. You cannot shut yourself away in a corner and work unseen if you are to useful.
   
   Do a good job and be seen doing it. Everybody gains.
   
   
5. Are you relaxed?
   
   To make good decisions you must be relaxed. You can't take in all the issues when you are stressed out. You can't consider all the possibilities when you are in panic mode.
   
   The first step is to ensure that you can answer `Yes' to the preceding four questions, because the better you tackle the issues raised the more effective you and all your staff will be. The nearer you can get to overcoming the problems presented the less stressed you will be.
   
   By addressing these questions you will inevitably become more relaxed. It will follow naturally. You will find that you are that much closer to your work being a real pleasure. You will be that much closer to success.

So ask yourself these questions and if you can't honestly answer `Yes' to them all start planning what you are going to do about it. Then put your plan into action.

Arthur Cooper is a business consultant, writer and publisher. For his mini-course `Better Management' go to:
http://www.barrel-publishing.com/better_management.shtml