Ways to keep yourself cleared for action at work

By caven masuku

1. Don’t fall into the pattern of documenting everything. In most cases people have a tendency of documenting all the documents that they lay hands upon. With the New media tools, an internet is the best way of communicating with other business partners. The chat facilities have made it easy to communicate around. A telephone call is the best way of contacting workmates and other relevant stake holders.

2. Accept authority. At work even if you a big, that is if you have subordinates you should not act big. Hence “be big but do not act big” The unnecessary acting is what takes up the time. There are bosses who are authoritative and forget that being a boss do not mean you have the ultimate control of some-body’s life. Respecting your subordinate will in some way strengthen your relationship at work and enhances health environment. People think that to be the boss you have to be feared. That is wrong, any leader be it at work or in the community have to be respected. Respect as a manner first and for most have to start with the boss and in turn the subordinate retains it back.

3. Do not resist authority either. Many people who give orders cannot take orders. They can criticize freely but even well-intentioned suggestions upset them. Leading needs communication competence. Communication is reciprocal. It is a two way process, which means both the leader and the subordinate have to accept each other to reach a mutual understanding. This puts the leaders/boss in the wrong mood and prevents them from executing and allocating duties at their best. Anyone given the right to command should first have to learn to obey.

4. Accept responsibility. Effective leadership needs a responsible person who can be entrusted with all the facts. Don’t run around for a crutch to lean on either some item of company policy to protect you or a decision by high up to hide behind. Such approach if practiced builds frail managers. Again it hampers progress in an organisation.

5. Take time to communicate with others who may be interested or involved with you. Communication builds trust, faith, togetherness and progress. A few minutes spent at the start explaining something can save endless hours afterwards should unintentional mistake need correction.

6. Stop vacillating. This wastes not your time but also that of others who are depending upon you for sound direction in an organisation. One should have firm of conviction, based on sound moral standards. Humpty-Dumpty is a fence-straddling egg-head, and when he fall there is no hope of reconstructing him.

7. Say “no” to some request made to you. Many managers fears to be looked down upon by their subordinates and as such relinquishes to their requests. Everyone is flattered by being asked to serve on numerous committees and functions where he shares his talents. Invitations at times are cruel demands of a supervisor’s time and energy. Learn to say “no” and go. People at times may interpret lingering as uncertainty, which may cause confusion.

8. Be honest. Make simple statements if you are invited to an occasion that you don’t feel comfortable to attend. Make a simple statement like this; “I am finding this difficult’. This may assist you to express feelings honestly and openly