SNP Communications

CommTips #8: Entrepreneurial Management

By SNP Staff

Things are changing on the work front. Employees expect more from work than good compensation, health benefits and a great retirement plan. In addition to the basics, they now expect fulfillment from their work. That means they need to be able to control their destiny and know they directly benefit from their job performance. This requires a different type of management. We call it entrepreneurial management.

Here’s how it works:

* First define your shop as an entrepreneurial shop and set the expectation of a successful employee as “being the leader you seek.” The implication is management will no longer enable employee dependence. This is tough for middle managers.
* Managers need to accept their role as servant to their employees and facilitator for their success. The old command and control model has to give way to a flatter, more responsive management model of strategic speed.
* Managers need to develop active communication which includes quick decision making, open door access, drive-by check ins, and weekly reporting that includes employee suggestions and feedback.
* In their role as servant, managers then need to respond in a timely fashion to any and all suggestions and feedback. Teach employees to expect quick action and results.
* Work on reducing staff meetings and instead use instant messages, emails, impromptu conference calls, and project wikis. Save staff meetings for high level problem solving and big picture strategy and thinking.
* In the end, let employees define their role, set goals / objectives and then have them commit to them verbally and in print. Use email to have them summarize expectations.

Your compensation plan should directly tie to their performance. Get them involved in defining criteria for both performance and compensation. Then have them write the summary email and get your agreement. Put the burden on them to follow through. Your role is to support and advise them by making quick decisions and getting things done so they can do their job better. Easier said than done.

Filed under All, CommTips.

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