Reflecting on Artefacts as Looking Glasses for Future Managers
The ePortifolio that I have given shows what I have gained from ‘How can one be effective in modern time management systems.’ I have included three artefacts to support my learning. The artefacts will show how effective I am in the modern system of management.
The first artefact shows a short speech that I have made to my team members and workers to address them effectively. It is an example of public speaking.
The second artefact shows a picture of a retreat where the manager takes his employees for a retreat.
I am a professional who has a successful past. From being a young footballer and still being the captain of my football club. I use this power and knowledge in the university to earn a living. I have the capability of doing all these things, satisfying the company’s requirements and going on with the other activities. I have a lot of values in management. Some of the most important are accountability, integrity, diligence, perseverance, and discipline. This information will be of great use to other students in the university.
Management is an essential activity as described by Yasin Olum. Human beings have been forming organizations to ensure that aims and objectives are accomplished. There needs proper management to achieve these goals. I have preferred good planning in management as a way of ensuring effective management. Planning includes the selection of missions and objectives and the actions put in place to achieve them. I will make plans for the most detailed actions which have to be taken. Until I put down measures to be taken on a certain plan, no plan is real. We have to commit all our material and human resources to the plans which we have put in place. I have given a graph to my employees to show them how I personally have been spending my time so as to achieve the objectives of the company (Tibarimbasa, A. et al 2010).
The chat show how one can spend his time. I think by giving such helpful information. Apart from this kind of management, I will also ensure that there are strategies put in place for problem-solving. The team will encounter a lot of struggles when in the process of achieving their goals. I will ensure that the process put in place is, first of all, identifying the problem, analyzing the problem and later implementing the remedies to problems in the management (Hill et al. 2014). I will also lay down procedures and rules which will be used in control, delegation, communication and crisis management. Also, I will ensure that I make strategic integration of resources from the people, assess the workers and allow interaction among all parties in the team (Tibarimbasa, A. et al. 2010). Finally, I will teach my team members on important aspects such as motivation, giving emotional strength, personal integrity and teamwork.
Exploring the Key Functions of Effective Managers
I will aim to ensure that the objectives and goals of the organization are met with minimum waste and least cost. I will ensure that there is an excellent organisation as a method of ensuring that there is good management. By making my people work together will make it easy for them to achieve their goals and objectives. I will, therefore, establish structure roles for my people to work in the organization.
Another management skill that I would involve in my management is staffing (Hill et al. 2014). I will make sure that there is filling, and also keep filed for the positions in the company’s structure. I will achieve this by identifying the requirements of the workforce, selecting, recruiting, promoting, placing, appraising and inventorying the people who would be available. Leading is also a critical management skill that I would use in my management. Leading involves making influence so that my people will make higher contributions to the organizations and the goals. I will make sure that I will lead in ways that the people under me admire. For example, as in the artefact, I will be on the first line to show how to manage time well (Tibarimbasa, A. et al. 2010).
I would also be controlling. For example, in the budget for the expense, I will ensure that the measuring and correcting of the activities put in place conform to plans. I will ensure that I will show where there are negative deviations and get into actions to straighten the deviations. Plans will help in accomplishing various goals (Tibarimbasa, A. et al. 2010). Finally, in management, I will ensure that there is coordination.
I will give a motivational speech to the employees. “… Unity is a strength. Whenever we unite great things will happen (Hill et al. 2014). Whenever we join our hands together, we shall finally achieve success. So let us unite and keep work together towards our aim…” This is a speech as an artefact. Managers of modern time should make sure that there is teamwork among the members. It will be crucial for the development and growth of any organization. As a manager, I would also make my members work as a team. It will significantly help in achieving the goals and the objectives of an organization (Tibarimbasa, A. et al. 2010).
Being a manager will enable me understand that my employees will be my most important assets. This is because they will be the ones who will be running the business on daily basis. Thus I will understand that they are the ones who will give me support and staff. Therefore, I will make sure that I will maintain hardworking, loyal and happy employees. This will not be so easy (Hill, et al 2014). I might encounter many mistakes which I will have to avoid. There are some qualities that I will have to acquire. This is because not everyone is born as a leader and so I will have to maintain some qualities. First, I will understand the value of my employees. I will always appreciate the roles they play in the organization and the contributions which they give on daily basis. I am quite sure that if I underestimate their efforts, they will become demotivated, unhappy and will perform relatively low (Tibarimbasa, A. et al 2010).
Planning: The First Step in Effective Management
The artefact above shows a retreat where the manager had taken the employees to enjoy. This is a form of gratitude practiced by the employer (Hill, et al 2014). This can be used to motivate the employees and improve the productivity in the organization. I will also make sure that I express my gratitude to the staff for jobs which have been done well. I will always make sure that I say words like ‘thank you’ to my team members. It will create a big difference in the workforce. I will ensure that I will always give positive feedback. It will actually develop loyalty, boost productivity and motivation in my team (Tibarimbasa, A. et al 2010). I will also make sure that I will communicate clearly. This will ensure that the group members will understand what they are required to do. This I will achieve by communicating as a team or individual to individual. It will ensure that everybody knows what they are meant to be doing.
Also, I will listen carefully. I will listen to all the members carefully and get to hear what they say. It will not matter whether it concerns the work or the business. In any way, I will always be there and willing to provide support in the way that I can. I will also trust employees to achieve. I will break down projects into manageable chunks and assign them according to the strengths and abilities of a person. I will put trust in them to handle various tasks and do it in an ethical manner. I will resolve conflicts. I will be a mediator in case there is a conflict among the members or staff. This will be for the sake of the productivity and overall performance. I will resolve them effectively before they get out of control (Hill et al. 2014).
Also, I will get to know my employees better. I will try to find out what motivates them to be more productive (Tibarimbasa, A. et al. 2010). For example, for an employee who wants to climb the leadership ladder, I will personally do training and mentor them. Other employees will suggest they need more flexible hours or change the seating arrangement or improving their equipment to work efficiently. It will motivate my workers and create a good environment for work.
I will also make sure that I maintain transparency. I will achieve this by setting a good example because if employees feel they are misled, or relevant information is being held, it will break down trust and undermine the relationship. I will make sure that I become a high achiever (Tibarimbasa, A. et al. 2010). I will show that I have enough skills and knowledge which will make sure I lead the team effectively. I will always be available when my team needs me.
Conclusion
Robert Half has clearly stated what one needs to be an effective manager. He has shown that a great manager must be a part counsellor, part coach and part tactician. Being in management requires various skills, but leaders who are willing can get these skills. As a result, they will be greatly rewarded. Management is the process in which there is the maintaining and designing the environment with an objective of accomplishing a certain goal. We have learnt that it involves various activities such as organizing, planning, staffing, controlling and leading. It is an important activity in all the companies. However, we have seen that the managerial skills which are needed vary with the level of the organization. Managing is an art. Therefore the management theory involves the development of principles, techniques and concepts. There are so many theories in management, and each gives knowledge to the managers. We have got the concept of values to practice to become an effective manager. If these values can be practised, then one will make a good manager.
References
Hill, C.W., Jones, G.R. and Schilling, M.A., 2014. Strategic management: theory: an integrated approach. Cengage Learning.
Tibarimbasa, A., 2010. Factors affecting the management of private universities in Uganda. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Makerere University, Uganda. Online at: https://mak. ac. sug/documents/Makefiles/theses/Tibarimbasa_Avitus. pdf.