Most companies have two organizational charts: formal and informal. The former is written down; the latter is not, but is composed of natural leaders who get things done mainly through the power granted them by their peers. This constitutes real power, and may lie with someone underneath another on the formal chart. Recognizing the evolution of this type of power in an organization and how to effectively work with it are topics the article addresses. Natural leadership can cause factions and divisiveness or it can help motivate a positive team spirit.(jd-b)
The 4 principal behavior styles exhibited by employers are examined in detail for managers: viz., (1) the socializer; (2) the director; (3) the thinker; and the relater. Strategies for dealing with each of these styles are delineated, and their strengths and weaknesses are discussed. While employees may possess some traits of each of these styles to varying degrees, most generally will have a single dominant style.(wz)
Abstract: Many supervisors have trouble delegating tasks to their staff members, for several reasons. Many feel that it is pointless to spend hours training an employee to do a task they could perform in minutes. Others suggest that delegation is ineffective as the work performed is substandard, but the delegating manager is still held responsible for the outcome. A third reason concludes that there is a certain security in being the only person who knows how to perform a particular function. Most often, however, ineffective delegation is a symptom that the manager does not have a clear understanding of his/her role, or has been inadequately prepared for the management realities of their task. Training managers who see delegation as one of a set of management tools may change thir outlook and improve their delegation process, and the quality of work delegated. (rbl)
Telecommuting is a relatively new business term that refers to the process of getting work done away from the central office location. Recent advances in the fields of communication and computer technologies are allowing an increasing number of business people to function effectively and productively outside the office. Potential benefits of telecommunications to an organization, in addition to energy savings from reduced transportation needs, include 1) improved productivity, 2) employment incentive, 3) improved employee retention, 4) greater staffing flexibility and cost control, and 5) office space control. Criteria are presented for use in analyzing the potential for successful accomplishment of a job through telecommuting. A pilot program is a recommended means of testing a proposed telecommuting program before fully implementing it. A step-by-step procedure is outlined that emphasizes the personnel management and training issues involved in telecommuting.(aje)
