SEVEN SECRETS OF SUCCESFUL MANAGERS BY BASOLA VICTOR

SEVEN SECRETS OF SUCCESFUL MANAGERS

BY
BASOLA A. VICTOR

Over the years in working with clients, I have had the pleasure of observing many managers who were and are extremely successful in their chosen professions. Despite their very different disciplines, industries and even cultures, the most interesting thing that I`ve observed is not their dissimilarities, but what they all seem to have in common. I have been amazed by the consistent pattern of behaviors that successful managers all seem to share in their approach to managing others.
However they discovered these secrets, intuitively, through instruction or example, here are seven secrets that I believe all successful managers have in common:
1. They are a transparent example. The most successful managers wear both their personal values and the values of their organization on their sleeves. They are both knowledgeable and skillful and in constant pursuit of mastery of both. By doing this, they set an example for their people both on the job and off. Whether it`s a dedication to customer service, a commitment to quality or anything else, they themselves embody and practice the value and constantly strive to master and improve it. Because they always look at their own behavior before looking at others, they are believable role models and command respect.
2. They demand the same from others. They are able to visualize the skills, knowledge and culture necessary for the organization and individuals in it to succeed, and they begin to sell others on the need for change. They are impatient regarding their goal but extremely patient in helping people buy into that goal. Once they have achieved a critical mass of people committed to change, they demand and expect full adherence to the new organizational culture. Their mission is not to create a group of mirror images of themselves, but rather to help everyone achieve their full potential. In order to do that, they must set high standards and expectations for success.
3. They coach others. For successful managers, every interpersonal encounter represents a coaching opportunity. Some are planned and highly structured individual or group coaching sessions. The vast majority, however, are "in the moment" opportunities. Coaching involves a range of behaviors, educating, encouraging, demonstrating, counseling, and more, but the focus of all of these actions is to help other people succeed. These managers are constantly and actively involved in performance improvement and helping their people become more talented and capable.
4. They track performance. They have definable, measurable standards of performance against which everything is measured. They clearly articulate success points or critical success factors for everyone in their organization. These standards reflect individual development plans and are therefore customized to each member of the organization. They give responsibility but expect accountability.
5. They leverage their coaching and train Leaders. They recognize that for some within the group the future holds greater responsibilities. They prepare future managers by coaching them to coach others. They give these people opportunities to stretch and expand their own skills by developing skills in others.
6. They implement a mastery program. Many within the group are happy with their current level of responsibilities. Successful managers do not allow this to be an excuse for not growing. They constantly raise the bar and invent new ways for people to continue to grow and improve in their current positions. They recognize that continued growth and improvement is a life long journey rather than a destination, and the programs they implement reflect this.
7. They are Consistent: Successful people in any endeavor know that there is no such thing as overnight success. Good managers achieve their level of success through consistency and discipline, and they help others succeed through repeated coaching and example. They know the only way to maintain a high level of success is through repetition and discipline. In fact, without repetition and discipline, the previous six secrets are only good intentions rather than successful management practices. With them, they become the habits that form the basis of continuing success.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Basola A. Victor is a Best Selling Author, Marketing Expert and Business Consultant. He is presently the CEO of Bash Concepts International, a Marketing Expertise and Business solutions firm dedicated to become a one stop source for overall business development.

TO CONTACT HIM WRITE:
BASH Concepts International
Suite 001, Elshaddai House Off Umono Rd. Abraka
Delta State, Nigeria
(+234) 07035121346, 08078957783

MANAGING THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE by BASOLA A. VICTOR

MANAGING THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE
BY
BASOLA A. VICTOR

A little boy once overheard his father saying to someone on the phone, “Yes, you may put me down for membership. I already belong to a dozen organizations, so I might as well join one more”. After His father hung up, the boy asked innocently; “Daddy, do all those groups you belong to know that you belong?”
This boy’s question started the Father thinking. He concluded that He was filtering away his energy trying to belong to every group that called on him. He was “BELONGING” too much but “ACCOMPLISHING” very little. So he dropped out of most of the organizations of which he was a “member”, then he put his whole heart into the few he considered most worthwhile. In these groups he soon became an outstanding figure and genuine contributor. Over time, he became well known in the community not for his numerous memberships, but for the many good works his few memberships yielded. For his part, the man no longer had any question as to whether or not he belonged.
The very worse use of your time is to do so well that which need not be done at all. All you succeed doing is being busy doing nothing worthwhile.
Peter Drucker said “Time is Basic; unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed”. If you study successful people, you will find out that they are well organized, getting more done in less time. They have clear goals and objectives, Specific plans and Priorities and a structured plan on how to achieve them.
To be productive and financially independent, you have to learn the simple law of Time Management. People who practice this law report their careers take off; their income increase and surprisingly, they still have enough time for themselves and to spend with their families and friends.
Majority of us wake up daily without any plan for the day, we are like a ship without sail being tossed about by the wind taking us anywhere it might lead. Jokingly, we don’t feel bothered thinking that by tomorrow (which will never come) we will make amends. Hours run into days, days run into weeks, weeks into months and months into years, we end up having an unbalanced life full of unachieved Dreams.
To be able to manage your time successfully so as to manage the time of your life, I will recommend a few steps (which I have practiced and still practicing) that will help you in creating an organized life.

1. DECIDE EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT IN EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE
Deciding exactly what you want in every area of your life will not only keep you focused on a goal but it will also give you the spur needed for its achievement. According to John M. Goddard; “If you really know what you want in life, it’s amazing how opportunities will come to enable you carry them out”. Nothing ever happens in life until you create space for it” James Mackay remarked and by deciding exactly what you want in every area of your life, you bare invariably creating space for it’s achievement.

2. WRITE OUT THOSE GOALS CLEARLY AND SET A REASONABLE DEADLINE FOR YOURSELF FOR ITS ACHIEVEMENT:

A dream is a goal with a deadline. The reason you have not being achieving those dreams is because you have not woken up to pen them down. Writing down your goals (whether daily, weekly, monthly or yearly) has a way of commiting you to its achievement. It cements what is going on in your mind and brain and whenever you set your eyes on your written goals, it drives home the fact that it must be established.
If it is a large goal, break it down into sub goals and write them down in the right order making sure you include a reasonable date or deadline. Make a list of everything you can think of that you are going to do in order to achieve your goal and add them to your priorities. If you break these goals down into a daily schedule, you will be amazed how easy it is to achieve the HERCULEAN task before you.

3. START FROM THE MOST IMPORTANT THING/TASK ON YOUR LIST AND START IMMEDIATELY.
Procrastination is a grave where lifetime opportunities are buried. John Mason remarks “The best time of the day is now”. The major problem with us is “PROCRASTINATION”. Having the I will do it later attitude towards things and this has caused more harm than good in the lives of many individuals. It came to a time that I wrote an inscription “DO IT NOW” and placed it somewhere close to my bed, in my office and in my library to be able to break free from postponing things and events. If you have to go to that length, please do’ your life is too precious to waste away hoping for a tomorrow that often eludes us.
Yesterday is a cancelled Cheque, Tomorrow is a Promisory note,, but Today is the only Cash you have; let us spend it wisely.
What you do with your time in its little packets of minutes, seconds and hours goes a long way to shapen your life




ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Basola A. Victor is a Best Selling Author, Marketing Expert and Business Consultant. He is presently the CEO of Bash Concepts International, a Marketing Expertise and Business solutions firm dedicated to become a one stop source for overall business development.

TO CONTACT HIM WRITE:

BASH Concepts International
Suite 001, Elshaddai House Off Umono Rd. Abraka
Delta State, Nigeria
(+234) 07035121346, 08078957783