Energy Message

Four Types of Managers

I like the way Sumantra and Bruch catergorize the four types of managers.

Category I - Highly focused, highly energerized - this manager concentrates his or her energy on the goal without falling prey to distractions.  This category makes up 10% of the study.

Category II - Low focus, low energy - these managers are massive procrastinators - Can you imagine working around a person like this - boring!!!

Category III - High focus, low energy - I once had a CPA that fit in this category.  At times I wanted to check his pulse to see if he was still alive!  The researchers call it "No passion."  I agree!

Category IV - Low focus, high energy - 40% fall into this category  - frenzied, jumping from project to project.  They quickly accept new projects but because they lack the ability to priortize they abandon them just as quickly.

What do you do if you fall into one of these last three categories or you work for someone that does?   In the next few Energy Messages I'm going to take a stab at some suggestions. 

Before I sign off let me add that I believe the responsibility of changing to a High Focus, High Energy Manager is always the responsibility of the manager.  I've seen some managers so frustrated with their leaders that they throw in the towel and hold on until retirement.  In my humble opinion there will always be reasons to slack off, but all of them are unacceptable.  Personal responsibility is the key to all success. 

Talk to you soon,

Dr. Bob

             

Beware the Barrenness of Busy Part 3

I've really enjoyed thinking and writing about the research Sumantra and Bruch did on the busy, ineffective manager.  Here's something to think about; 'how' do you suppose those managers became so busy in the first place.  I know a lot of busy managers, some are effective and some are not and the reasons  for being busy are as numerous as there are busy managers.  I believe one of the big things that produces a busy manager is the example set by their leaders.  If a leader values busy-ness he or she will expect managers to be just like them.  I've heard more than once - "Our job is to get results..." or "Our job is to get product out the door no matter what."  And, the 'no matter what' included not paying attention to safety and little to no training.    

So, I'm inclined not to cast too much judgment on those busy, ineffective managers.  They may be "Saluting and Executing" to satisfy their leaders.  After all, leaders set the stage for how the culture operates and if they want to replace skill and competence with busy-ness it's completely up to them.  Although I believe a really self-confident manager can look beyond the influence of 'higher ups" and focus his or her energy where it will create the most good for the team and the company. 

I'd like to get your thougths on this - just hit the comment button.

Best to you,

Dr. Bob

Beware the Barrenness of Busy

Busy does not always mean effective.  In the study by Sumantra and Bruch they found busy-ness by a manager does not necessarily mean the manager is being effective in his job.  The 10% that were effective had the ability to combine energy and focus to get the results they wanted, the rest were spinning their wheels.  The folks in the 10% group increased their energy by doing two things.   First they approached each task with laser-like precision until it was completed.  Secondly, they exercised self-discipline so as not to be side-tracked by distractions. 

I've always heard that if you want something done give it to the busiest person you can find.   Guess that concept doesn't hold water according to Sumantra and Bruch.  According to them you give the project to the person who can focus and has the self-discipline to get it done.  By the way, I love the definition these authors have for energy.  Check this out; "Energy is the emotional tenacity that releases immense inner resources, allowing the hardest job to be done." 

Here's a challenge for us; for one day be aware of how we focus our energy and not allow distractions to take us off track.   

Best to you,

Dr. Bob

Energy boost Creativity

Just received some insightful statistics from a colleague.  The really cool thing about people knowing how interested I am in this energy thing is that they are always sending me stuff.  Keep it up!

This is the latest I've read on energy.  A 10 year research project that focused on the busy manager was conducted by Ghoshal Sumantra and Heike Bruch.  The question they asked was, "Why do most managers work so hard but accomplish so little?"  A couple interesting results were: "Managers often confuse action with accomplishment and motivation with leading."  "Only 10% of managers act purposefully to get truly important work done." 

Here is one of the findings; "The 10% of effective managers do it with Energy and Focus."  These managers "engage their willpower" through a combination of using energy effectively and focusing on the right job at the right time.

More to come,

Dr. Bob