Sleeker, Slimmer, Smarter Business Management

Savvy leaders know that less is more when managing a business
By Jeanne Dininni, Writer, Editor, Blogger, Notary Public Whether your company is large or small, you can begin today to spend less time and effort on business management. It doesn’t matter whether you’re managing a business that you own yourself or managing a company or department for another owner, firm or corporation. By accessing the appropriate business management information and making a few smart management moves, you’ll begin building better business management solutions for your company. At the same time, you’ll eliminate many mundane tasks that sap your time, energy and patience.  

Here are a few of the advantages you’ll enjoy when you begin managing better by managing less: 

1.  More time to focus on planning, coordinating and developing a vision and direction for your company 

2.  More competent, confident, happy and productive employees 

3.  Greater control—over your time, your executive management decisions and your life 

4.  An operation that runs more smoothly with less hands-on management from you 

5.  More free time for things other than business management, companies and company issues

Say "no" to micromanagement

Micromanagement may sound slim, but it isn't. It gobbles up the time, energy and focus you need for other tasks. Resist the urge to constantly check up on everyone and everything. Once your employees know your expectations, assume they'll follow through. Check in with them at pre-planned intervals, review their work and hold them accountable for its quality. Spend the time saved completing the executive management tasks that are actually part of your job description.
Try:  Rewards Nation is an online resource you can use to inspire, motivate and reward your employees for showing initiative and producing quality work. When employees feel more appreciated, you'll feel less of a need to micromanage. You'll also find a few helpful tips on how to avoid the pitfalls of micromanagement at EvanCarmichael.com.

Foster communication

Let employees know when you're not to be disturbed, yet exercise an open-door policy at appropriate times. If you're serious about both time and business management, solutions like these will be the order of the day for your company: Never allow "upward delegation" of tasks; encourage employee collaboration and peer mentoring, instead. This will benefit both you and your staff, as you proactively free up more time for your own work and they learn to accept greater responsibility for theirs.
Try:  Automate, delegate or outsource any non-management tasks that don’t require your personal expertise or oversight. You might try STAR 360 Feedback's employee evaluation software.  Also, try the OnlineOrganizing.com Delegation Checklist for a comprehensive set of important points to consider when delegating, or the Clickable Office for a great group of tips for preventing interruptions to your work. (Click the image of the angry boss.)

Empower your staff

Arrange for training to better equip your staff to do their jobs. Provide the needed tools, resources and authority. Then, as their experience, competence and confidence grow, begin giving them greater latitude for independent decision making. Free both yourself and your team from the burden of having to give or receive approval for everything done.
Try:  Downloadable training courses are available from Soft Skills Courseware, including sales and marketing and career development training. You'll also find guidance on employee training at the American Management Association’s career management site.

Get good advice

Tending to your own ongoing leadership growth will help you run your business or department with increasing effectiveness. One way to gain greater managerial insight is by using management consulting services. You may also attend local or not-too-distant seminars or workshops or take online courses or webinars, where you'll have access to all the latest business management information, strategies and techniques.
Try:  Consider using consulting firms that offer business management services, such as Accenture. BusinessTrainingMedia.com  offers numerous management e-seminars, and Soft Skills Courseware provides management training courseware, as well. 

• Business management services can help get you on the road to a tighter, more efficient management style. But, if you're serious about self-study, you may get just as much from many of the courses available online.