John Ploetz Bloggin

Managers should use a consistent set of steps to handle resolution of standard work related issues. Using a standard process helps:

1. Everyone manage expectations;
2. Lead to more consistent outcomes to situations; and
3. Produce a more consistent positive direction for the company.

Good managers use a process similar to the following step process:

a. Assess the situation first. Ask yourself the three basic questions:

i. What is the problem that needs to be resolved. Writing down the problem can actually help you visualize the exact nature of the problem;

ii. Who are those that are affected by the problem or situation. Understand who is affected and how they are affected; and

iii. Why does it need to be resolved. Make sure it is something that needs to be handled now and can’t wait until some later date.

b. Gather all the facts. It’s important to know what is affecting the problem. Getting all the facts is necessary in order to fully analyze and resolve. Don’t be afraid to write them down as you gather them.

c. Part of the fact finding process involves getting involved with the people most qualified or knowledgeable with the issue. It might be you, it might be someone else with special experience, or it could be a group of people. Never assume you are the most qualified or knowledgeable. Keep an open mind during this process, remember at this stage you are simply gathering the facts. Plus getting input from others can help:

i. Provide you with additional facts;
ii. Reaffirm that you grasp the full nature of the problem; and
iii. Give you new perspectives and ideas on how to solve the problem.

d. After completing the fact finding process, use open dialogue when appropriate with those people affected to discuss options on how to resolve the issue. This will give you a 360 degree view on how the issue is impacting the work place, the company and managees. Through a free flow of ideas and input from those impacted by the issue all ideas can be reviewed and discussed.

e. Once you “discuss through” the various recommendations go with the best alternative. Make sure both managers and managees buy in to the decision and that everyone understands why it was chosen over other alternatives.

f. Clearly define the course of action to those affected by the new process or changes that are being implemented.

g. Stay on your chosen course of action. Sometimes changes take time to fully integrate into the workplace. Give them time to work.

h. Only change course if there is a change in the initial facts or new unforeseen things happen. Do not second guess your decision.

Using a consistent process will get you better decision outcomes and over time keep the company moving in a positive direction.

Next time – Consistency in handling people.

John Ploetz

3 Jul, 2013

John Ploetz Bloggin

Throughout my career I’ve been both a manager and a managee; technically “managee” is not a real word, but I use it to make a point. I like to use the terms “manager” and “managee” rather than “manager” and “worker” because in actuality both are workers, each responsible for a different set of duties in the workplace. I use the two terms to show that there is a linked inseparable relationship between the two. You can’t have one without the other and you can’t be successful unless both the manager and the managee work well together. Both are an integral part of a company’s success or failure. In this week’s blog I will start to discuss which areas a manager should focus on in order to improve his or her ability to carry out his or her duties.
At the top of my list of skills needed to be a good manager are:

1. Good communication skills –Be clear and direct when communicating with a managee. Some important points include:

a. Choose your words wisely to concisely convey your message.

i. Use industry specific words as much as possible to define and explain.
ii. Try to use words that have one meaning vs. multiple meanings. Rather than saying “Put
your results in writing.”, say “Please put your results in a one page Word document and
e-mail me a copy when it is finished.”
iii. Use definite timelines rather than vague timelines. Instead of saying “Get this done as
soon as possible.”, say “Please get this done by the end of the day.”

b. Communication also includes the body language and tone that is used. Consistent use of gestures and body language play an important part in how well you communicate with a managee. An interesting article on effective use of voice tone and body language can be found at: Using tone and body language.

c. Always determine if the person has properly received what you have communicated to them. This can be done in a couple of ways:

i. In a friendly manner, ask them to paraphrase it back to you in their own words.
ii. Send a short e-mail or text co message confirmation of what you said in order to
reaffirm what you’ve said.

d. People filter and process information differently. Determine the most direct way a managee wants to receive communications from you. Many younger people want to communicate electronically via text or e-mail. Many older people want to communicate via phone or in person. If possible, communicate with a person in the mode they want to communicate. Choosing the wrong mode to communicate may result in your communication being lost, misinterpreted, or delayed.

e. Good communication skills include good listening skills. Take time to listen to manages during the communication process. Work to understand a managee’s perspective. Understanding a managee’s concern’s and viewpoints can help you to determine how best to communicate with a managee. A good start on understanding active listening can be found at: Active listening.

Developing a positive communication relationship between a manager and managee takes time. Always remember once you have communicated with a managee you can’t take your communication back, so always communicate wisely.

Next up – Managers: Consistency in Handling Situations

John Ploetz

26 Jun, 2013

John Ploetz Bloggin

There is always the need to seek out new marketing platforms. New technology is appearing daily and existing technology is improving and changing daily. You need to stay on top of the changes.

1. Look for current information on social media trends. You can get updates directly from the different social media platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook by receiving e-mail updates from them. Also you can get trend info by joining any number of different groups through LinkedIn. Two of the groups worth checking out are eMarketing Association Network and American Marketing Association. Discussions by members in these groups can give you good marketing information on current trends. Finally, I still like sites like mashable.com or a new site I came across marketingland.com to update me on new trends.

2. Always be open to using additional types of marketing platforms. If you come across a new marketing platform make a note of it. When you have time, do a little research and get more information on the platform. But, make sure to distinguish between trends and fads. Spending time on a fad that never really gains mainstream momentum isn’t a wise use of your time. Examples of other platforms worth checking into are Vine, YouTube, Pinterest, or Manterest (Pinterest for guys), Foursquare, or QR codes.

3. You can test out additional marketing platforms by incorporating them in a specific marketing campaign. Some platforms are more stand alone platforms. Others are really meant to be used in conjunction with another platform. Always ask yourself whether by using an additional platform you are improving your marketing campaign or is it just a “cool” throw away to show you are a trend setter. Trend setting without a clear direction doesn’t improve your campaign. Remember you are always working with limited resources so use them wisely. Also, use of too many platforms can sometimes detract from the actual message you are trying to get out to your potential customers. Sometimes fewer platforms is better.

4. When you come across information about a potential new marketing platform, save the information in a computer file or bookmark it on your browser. If the platform looks interesting see if a course is available, either through the company or a third party vendor. If you look you can usually find inexpensive or free introductory classes on different platforms. Check your new platform list each time you are ready to start to a new campaign. Based on the type of campaign decide whether the time is right to add a new marketing platform. You may not use a new platform today or tomorrow but it might come in handy in the future for the right campaign.

5. Always keep an outline with notes on each marketing campaign you complete. A simple Excel spreadsheet is enough. Track what you did, what marketing platforms you used and your ultimate results. Over time you should be able to build a marketing campaign resource library from which you can pull up information that you’ve saved on prior marketing campaigns. This can help you to quickly determine how you want to handle the marketing for each different type of campaign or provide you with a starting point for a new type of campaign.

Next up – managers and managees (yes managees)