International Business

Archive for the ‘management’ Category

It has been stated oft that the key to having strong institutions, programs and systems is to have equally strong structures. However, irrespective of how strong the structures are, they need equally strong leadership to achieve the kind of results expected of them. This is what has been achieved by the management team behind the successful running of financial asset management systems collections. It is inconceivable where these systems would have been had the management team operating them been weak in any way.

It is interesting to note that the management teams that have been in charge of financial asset management systems collections over the years have modelled their kind of leadership around experience, customer oriented and ethical practices. The result has been the emergence of a workforce and systems that have driven financial asset management systems collections into periods of sustained growth. The continued growth has led to the expansion and spreading of this company throughout different states.

Financial asset management systems collections have also been employing personnel into its management team who have clocked several years in the industry. They realize that such successful people tend to bring with them the experience required to make financial asset management systems collections reach even higher and greater heights than the current levels. Not only that but the people employed as part of financial asset management systems collections are those who have demonstrated a willingness and ability to put clients’ needs and aspirations before theirs.

Some of the management team members that have served financial asset management systems collections have also had close business interactions with Fortune 100 clients. The clients listed as falling within the category of Fortune 100 are those with a nationwide if not international appeal with stringent needs and demands. The ability of these people to work with such clients has lifted the profile of these management team members such that by the time they come to be part of financial asset management systems collections, they have attained wide array of experience.

Such management team members have also proven to be quite effective in combining professional collection services with effective customer care. At times, getting the right kind of balance between quality service provision and the relevant customer is a difficult proposition for most people. However, this is not the case with financial asset management systems collections management team members who know how to offer strong, reliable and effective leadership when required to do so.

Management might not on the face of it appear to be that difficult compared to the technical aspects of the role. Yet succeeding as a manager is as much about who you are and how you behave as it is about what you do. So what are some of the key management qualities?

Quality 1: Honesty

You will have to deal with many problems and challenges. From time to time you will have to make some tough choices. Those that you manage will look to you for re-assurance that everything will be okay. It is not always going to be possible to do that so learn to be honest with people.

Quality 2: Act with integrity

Acting with integrity is about behaving in a way that demonstrates professionalism. There will be times, especially when under pressure where you might be tempted to breach your own standards. Notice when this is happening and catch yourself before you say or do something that conflicts with your values.

Quality 3: Reliability

Your team will look to you for support and help when things are difficult for them. Be there for them and show them that they can rely on you through good and not so good times.

Quality 4: Being accountable

Part of the deal of being a manager is being accountable for what is and what is not delivered. If you are happy taking the rewards that comes with a management role, it is important to make sure that you are willing to take responsibility for results.

Quality 5: Resilience

Good managers have a knack of bouncing back from setbacks and disappointments. In other words they are resilient. They believe in themselves and what they can achieve and see setbacks as an obstacle to overcome.

Quality 6: Determination

Getting results requires both inspiration and determination. Determination is a willingness to keep looking for ways to get the result you want, even when the odds appear to be stacked against you.

Quality 7: Common sense

The final quality that good managers have in abundance and is often overlooked is common sense. When faced with a host of challenges, it is all too easy to lose sight of the obvious solutions.

Bottom line – All managers face challenges. What sets apart those that excel from those that flounder are their qualities. So what qualities are you going to develop?

Middle management is a difficult place to occupy. It is often the place where careers are either broken or made. In fact, many business professionals find middle management roles more difficult than entry level or senior level management positions. The middle manager is not really in charge of setting direction and whatever direction is set must be done by working through others. It makes perfect sense why this role is difficult! Being a middle manager is difficult, but it is not an impossible role, however.

The first step a middle manager must take to be effective is to understand that this role requires more emphasis on other skills than the manager has used at the entry level. Specifically, the technical skills that were instrumental in her promotion are less important to her at this higher level. She must excel in her interpersonal and big picture (conceptual) skills to succeed. Her communication, judgment, conflict resolution, decision making, delegation, planning, and analytical skills are more important at this level than her technical skills. Her success as a middle manager is tied to her ability to influence and collaborate with others at all levels of the organization. If she tries to get by on her superior technical skills alone, she will set herself up for failure.

The second step a middle manager must take to be effective is to improve his interpersonal and conceptual skills. Unless this area is addressed, he will lack the proper planning, problem solving, analytical, and judgment skills to work at this level in the organization. The best methods for improving interpersonal and conceptual skills are continuing education and mentorship. Taking high quality management seminars, attending quality internal training, doing volunteer work, and joining a professional association are all viable continuing education methods. The middle manager should also find a mentor whom he respects to serve as a resource to him. Many times making the request of a higher level manager who has shown interest in his success is all that it takes. This individual should not be his boss, however. Boss and mentor roles can conflict!

The third step a middle manager must take to be effective is to find reliable sources for ongoing feedback on her performance. A 360 degree review is preferable. The key is to identify individuals who will provide the manager with honest feedback and who do not have their own political agenda. Peers with whom the manager has an effective relationship are a source. Her boss is always a source of feedback. Of course, the better the relationship with her boss, the better the feedback is generally.

Often, the best source of feedback for a middle manager is the managers she directs, however. This does not happen easily. First, she must create a no-penalty environment where her direct reports are free to give feedback to her. This means she must be prepared to hear some frank feedback from her direct reports, act on it appropriately without emotion, and not penalize her managers for what they had to say. After several instances of this behavior, the middle manager will start building credibility with her managers. She will find they appreciate her giving them a voice in the operations. And, her direct reports will likely begin to look out for her best interests as well.

The first level manager who is promoted to a middle manager must realize that the skills that brought him success in his former role are less critical at this higher level. Next, through education and mentorship, he must develop his interpersonal and conceptual skills which are more critical to his success. Finally, the middle manager must embrace 360 degree feedback. By taking these three steps, the middle manager can improve his chances of being successful in this difficult role.