Management Principles: How To Succeed

              Hello there.  I know it has been a while and I offer no excuses.  I am back now, and in full writing mode to share some more thoughts.  In fact, many more.  While I was away from writing I was never far from a notepad to jot down little nuggets of wisdom as I learned them.  I am ready, are you?

               I once heard that the most successful of people listen to books on CD’s while traveling to and from work.  Take this another step, those who are successful read not for pleasure, but to learn and hone their skills and trade.  While I walk through offices of many senior people, I look at their bookshelves to see what is there and what they reference.  It is these books I want to read.  I need to know how my peers and Senior people think so I know how they see things.  Solve things.  Hear things.  You see, I don’t want to clone myself into my management; rather, I want to know how they think so I can get into their heads.  With this information, I have a better understanding of how to present myself in a way I know they will relate to.  I more deeply understand the methods and techniques management uses to reach team goals and can empathize with such direction because of my learning.

               With this, I saw a poster in one the Senior Manager’s office that caught my eye.  It was about management principles and how to succeed.  There were 16 principles, written by J G Barber.  What I want to present to you is these principles, in my own words.  They struck a chord in me.  I like to keep things simple, and this does just that.  Plus, I agree with them.  I have seen these principles in action and can tell you from a first person point of view, it’s about to get real in here.

The Management Principles:

1.       Responsibility

2.      Commitments

3.      Following Direction

4.      Solving Problems

5.      Mistakes

6.      Decision Making

7.      Doing Your Homework

8.      Candor

9.      Technical Competence and Credibility

10.   Responsibility and Discipline

11.   Verbatim Compliance

12.   Symptoms, Illnesses and Details

13.   Integrity

14.   Promotions/Evaluations/Removals

15.   Bad News/Good News

16.   “Bum Dope”

              In the coming days and weeks, I will touch on each of these.  For now, just think about these 16 principles.  How do they resonate with you?  Do you agree that it can be this simple?  Which one means more than the next?  Do they have an order of rank to them according to your principles and values?   

              I will leave you with a quote from Hyman Rickover, the father of Naval Nuclear Power, on Responsibility:

“It is a unique concept; it can only reside and inhere in a single individual, you may share it with others, but your portion is not diminished.  You may delegate it, but it is still with you.  You may disclaim it, but it is still with you.  You may disclaim it, but you cannot divest yourself of it.  Even if you do not recognize it or admit its presence, you cannot escape it.  If responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion, or ignorance, or passing the blame can shift the burden to someone else.  Unless you can point your finger at the man who is responsible when something goes wrong, then you have never had anyone really responsible.”

               I am really glad to be back writing. As much as I continue to learn, I truly want to share with you my learnings.