Setting Direction Within an Organization

FINDING DIRECTION: An organization can't succeed without direction. Direction means having clear goals and guidelines; set goals and guidelines for staff to follow. When staff direction is needed, you must provide effective procedures for everyone to follow. Have guidelines and goals firmly set to keep the gray areas to the absolute minimum. It's up to you, to keep the departmental goals and that sense of direction so that it is not allowed to be buried beneath the workload.

UNDERSTANDING AN ORGANIZATION'S DIRECTION: Successful leaders also understand the organization's direction, and act along those lines. As a leader, you will also have to maintain a healthy flexibility within the organization. For example, one day you may attend a departmental meeting where the message is, "Spend, spend, spend, new research is your major goal." The next month you may get a memo from the CEO that says, "cut 50% of your research budget in two weeks" .After having just re-directed your group, you must now adopt this new goal and create a lean and mean team that will strip excess expenditures to the quick. If you are a good leader, you are also an informed leader. You should work hard to be a helicopter; always moving around in various circles, hearing what's what so that very little will come as a surprise.

GUIDELINES TO SET DIRECTION: --Set goals and objectives for the organization. Ask, "What does the organization want to accomplish, when, and how?" --Break down goals by department. This gives each sector in the organization a clear picture of their goals. --Encourage staff to set annual goals and objectives. Next, have them break down their goals into monthly tasks, going as far as setting weekly goals. Work towards monthly or weekly goals isn't always feasible, but within time, it will get easier. Set goals is the first step to meeting them. --Organize procedures. Every task has a procedure. Write it down and include it in your procedures manual. Make sure every procedure has a clear set of steps and is accessible to staff. --Delegate. Give responsibility to those who earn it. Don't make every little decision yourself. Give staff responsibility with direction, and you give them greater confidence and competence.

Copyright AE Schwartz & Associates All rights reserved. For additional presentation materials and resources: ReadySetPresent and for a Free listing as a Trainer, Consultant, Speaker, Vendor/Organization: TrainingConsortium

CEO, A.E. Schwartz & Associates, Boston, MA., a comprehensive organization which offers over 40 skills based management training programs. Mr. Schwartz conducts over 150 programs annually for clients in industry, research, technology, government, Fortune 100/500 companies, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. He is often found at conferences as a key note presenter and/or facilitator. His style is fast-paced, participatory, practical, and humorous. He has authored over 65 books and products, and taught/lectured at over a dozen colleges and universities throughout the United States.

---

Organize your Office- Seven Solutions

1. Create a filing system with broad categories such as... Read More

Employee Surveys: a Strategic Tool for Positive Change

Do you want to measure your workers' level of satisfaction?... Read More

Appraisal Systems - Not Living Up to Their Objectives

Almost, if not all organisations have them, they've been around... Read More

The Power of the Contract in Performance Management

An essential step in managing the performance of salespeople is... Read More

Business Innovation ? Organizational Structure

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

How To Rebuild Trust

Here are some quick thoughts on ways to turn things... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management: The Creative State

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Listening Strategically

Usually, we're most interested in communicating outwardly; getting our messages... Read More

How Bad Communication Can Hold You Back and How to Break Free of It

The reason jobs are often not done right and employees... Read More

Minimising Conflict With Effective Communication

Did you know there are 5 types of... Read More

Manage Your Time - Save Your Business.

If you work from home, chances are you already know... Read More

Performance Appraisal Scenarios: Improve Your Communication

IMPROVING COMMUNICATION DURING THE PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL: If the employee has... Read More

Strategies for Planning and Conducting Effective Meetings

Did you know that business executives spend about half their... Read More

The Survey Feedback Process for Organizational Development and Change

THE PURPOSE OF SURVEY FEEDBACK:In globally competitive environments, organizations are... Read More

Running Successful Meetings - The Key Steps To Getting It Right

We all complain about meetings which are a waste of... Read More

Time for Change - Clearing the First Hurdle

"Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump... Read More

Terrible Meetings - Ten Ways to Spot Them!

Sometimes, better than giving advice about how to run things... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management ? Hierarchies

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Managing People - No One Shows You What To Do

Imagine the following scenario - you pay a visit to... Read More

What is the Most Difficult Part of an Improvement Program?

Answer: Starting one.Most of us realize that there is probably... Read More

Managing Creativity

Creativity Starts Here!The ability of an organisation to create new... Read More

Business Innovation ? the Value of Work Processes

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Creativity Management ? Quality from Quantity

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Management Training: Are You Satisfied With The Results?

If you're not satfied with the results of your management... Read More

Business is About Making Money

Ask most people why they are in business and they... Read More

Motivating For Higher Performance

Employee motivation is probably the most important single manageable factor... Read More

Interviewing Applicants Can Be Hazardous to Your Wealth

1st Fact: Interviewing applicants is the most common way companies... Read More

2 Steps For Increasing Company Profits or Performing Business Turnarounds

1. Eliminate wasteEliminate reports, habits, products, duplicate input, and processes... Read More

Hiring and Retaining Good Employees

Hiring good employees is not only important to business, it's... Read More

Leadership Skill: How to Handle Difficult Conversations

A good leader has the ability to empower others. It... Read More

PR Still a Mystery to Some

Unfortunately, there are managers who define public relations by its... Read More

Three Ways to Transmit Loud and Clear

The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but... Read More

Ten Problem Solving Techniques

Do you ever need to find some good ideas, or... Read More