Management: The Art of Becoming a Resource to People

Becoming a resource. This action/power phrase describes a goal that every business manager/leader needs to adopt. People who assume supervisory roles need to evaluate their "becoming" activity on a regular basis. Those who can relax their egos can even ask others to assist in the evaluation process.

Managers ask, "How can we develop ourselves and continue to develop the people around us?" Let's first deal with ourselves. We all need a plan as to how we are going to keep our personal growth in the forefront. Here are some suggestions:

• Learn from other people's experience-Keep looking and asking others for help and feedback. There is no reason to redo what others have gone through. Keep a journal if you desire. Who knows-it may become a best-seller!
  
• Stay healthy-No one can be a resource if the human equipment is not functioning. Mental and physical well-being is a constant struggle, but it should be a priority for all of us.
• Use your time well-Time on the job is far less important than results on the job. Constantly question your organization's meeting schedule. You don't want to die at a meeting; it looks bad in your obituary. Balance home life and work. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize! A good resource person doesn't take a pager and cellular phone to a Little League game. Taking vacation is mandatory, and don't take just a day here and there. You must get away to allow yourself freedom, but more importantly, to allow your people to work independently of you, the resource.

Becoming a resource to other people becomes possible after the personal growth plan is implemented and maintained. The manager who functions as a resource is different from the manager as dictator or the manager as "doer." A resource will:

• Choose the right time to support-Timing is everything, and individualized support is the key. What works for one person won't work for another. When all else fails, ask your people how they want you to support them.
• Communicate openly and honestly-Al McGuire once said, "You can't fool people below you." It's okay to overcommunicate. Watch for hidden meetings and rumors.
• Be objective when listening-Get the complete story and make sure to ask questions while you are listening. Jumping to conclusions means you probably leaped too soon.
• Allow feelings-This advice probably is the most difficult to take. Sometimes your heart has the right answer. Nothing is cut-and-dried (except at a hair salon).
• Assign projects to help people progress-Think through the following: How will this project help our organization and help the person grow? What are the objectives and expected results? How will the communication work during the life of the project? What type of celebration will occur when the project is completed?
• Support ongoing personal improvement in all employees-Most organizations have some sort of personnel evaluation program. If there is not an educational program along with the evaluation process, then we've missed an opportunity to move people to the next level.
• Correct only to help-Many times we hurt with words and body language. While correction of inappropriate or inefficient activity is important, how and when we do the correction has long-term benefits or detriments, depending on how it's handled.
• Be open to employee concerns-If managers provide the right environment, people will help them run the business. Meetings need to feature managers listening as well as talking. If you say you'll do something, do it. Follow up, follow up, follow up.
• Help people develop their careers-Determine how you can be the teacher. What are your short- and long-term plans to help people move their careers along? What will people have to give up to achieve their goals?

Becoming a resource also means you're available. People feel comfortable having you "drop in" or dropping in on you. You have become a problem-solving resource rather than the problem solver. You might even be vulnerable by admitting mistakes and helping others learn from theirs.

Of course, it doesn't end there. There will be constant change, and you will have to become more flexible than ever. Progress will be in everyone's vocabulary constantly, even though the chart may look like a staircase rather than an upward straight line.

And who knows-some days you may be the first person out of the parking lot on your way home, rather than the last. This "becoming a resource" stuff may have possibilities.