MANAGE - Tips to Managing Our Manager!

MANAGE - Tips to Managing Our Manager!
(CopyRight 2008; Benjamin Goh; www.bensglobal.com)

Management is a process leading to a goal or objective. Without a goal is like driving to nowhere. Have you tried jogging to nowhere? Its really exhausting physically and mentally as there is no checkpoints to motivate oneself to push on.

M for Milestones. This is the exercise that one must take to understand clearly and completely the goals and objectives set by the manager along the route (milestones) of the project and of course, the final destination (end-result)!

A for Attention to details. Initiate brainstorming sessions to tap more ideas from the manager. If she or he is not going to reveal her or his ideas voluntarily, then one must proactively create the situation to tap as much ideas from him or her.

N for Never say die. Self motivation is key to any success. As much as others can motivate us, the more important and critical is for us to be able to motivate ourselves. The successful person is one who is highly self-motivated and is self-driven to accomplish the task(s) given to her or him.

A for Adapt, Adjust, Align. Always adopt a mindset of change. Learn to move along with the waves and be politically savvy in as many aspects as one can. Talk less, listen much more. One who accepts change and move on is one who will eventually end up the victor!

G for Group. Never battle alone. As the chinese saying goes, "its difficult to break a bunch of sticks". Team up fellow colleagues (direct or indirectly) and have regular meetings (formal or informal) to tap on their views and ideas. Someone outside has always a different angle of looking at the things we do. Learning from others' mistakes and experiences are golden rules in the road to success!

E for Evaluation. Always evaluate one's progress and if unsure, ask questions. A manager may not guide one along but it does not mean that one cannot communicate to her or him and get as much feedback about how she or he feels about one's progress. Be proactive and place as many checkpoints along the way to allow oneside to be able to measure one's progress objectively.

A final note..fill the gaps of our manager and we fill the gaps to our bridge to success!
Of course, if the manager is out to destroy us personally, then get out as we will always lose. There is no point fighting a losing battle now .. there are golden opportunities out there waiting of us!