I manage several companies and have over a dozen direct reports. I must admit having such a diverse responsibility, it also presents various challenges. There are some department heads, especially those in transition or new development stage, or departments which are more critical, I meet more regularly. There are some managers that I probably meet with once a month or probably less.

The way I manage is probably much flatter than the rest, and I understand I am stretching myself more Read the rest of this entry »

Every so often, we would have an employee evaluation, and after that, we would ask the managers to discuss with their members on how to improve ‘ their weakness’, or the trait where they scored the least.

According to a consultant, we are doing it wrong. There is marginal benefit or even minimal results to the organization of asking people to improve their weakness. What managers should rather focus on is telling their members on how to improve even further their ’strengths’.

Quoting Peter Drucker who said, ” Most of our problems or even weakness are not items that can be easily solved or changed. So how do we manage such ‘problems?’ The way to do that is to focus on areas where we are so good that the areas where we are poor starts to matter only a little at all. If you can have exceptional success on the areas you are good at, then what you are not good at becomes less of an issue at all.

We cannot all be like Marry Poppins, ‘ perfect in every way’. So what if you are no good in math? Then polished up your communication skills or your sports skills and gather success that way!

John was the foremost entrepreneur in that small suburban town. He owned most of the major businesses as well as the town’s biggest store. In spite of his success, he still worked hard. He would be in the office by 8, and would simply go around visiting his businesses, answering correspondence and holding meetings till late to the night.

He was known as an incredibly details manager. He signed all the cheques, purchase the bigger items, handles the projects, and personally pitch products and handle the relationships Read the rest of this entry »