*THIS IS DAN'S POST via my login because it would not let him login and post
“The first secret of effectiveness is to understand the people you work with so that you can make use of their strengths."
I really enjoyed this idea because I feel that I try to follow this particular managing style in my own life. Whenever someone is in charge of a group of people they absolutely need to know what each person’s strengths and weaknesses are before they will be able to effectively utilize them. The easiest way to do this is by getting to know the people you are working with. By developing a good working relationship with those who are directly under your command your team productivity and effectiveness will surely increase. A great example of understanding the people that you work with and utilizing their skills lies in the armed forces. In a military squad there is squad leader who is in charge and other soldiers who all specialize in different areas. Some soldiers may be trained in communications, others in demolition. In order to remain an effective unit the squad leader must understand each specific skill set that his men posses. This way the squad will be able to work together to quickly complete the task at hand.
Dan, I think you bring up a great point here and also agree with what you have to say and enjoyed your example of a military platoon.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, much like Dan’s it is essential in any team whether in school, at war, or at work that they truly understand one another’s strengths and weaknesses. I think the problem here is how you truly identify people’s strengths/weaknesses right away when you are grouped with them in a class. So many times these issues aren’t even discussed and people’s true strengths don’t come out until the team hits a crossroad and sometimes by then it is too late.
Do we then have to walk around with a document that states all my strengths/weaknesses and give them to anyone I work together in a team setting? Even then, Drucker talks about how it takes about two to three years of analyzing one-self through feedback analysis in order to really become fully aware of one’s own strengths and weakness. So I guess the question really is where is the middle ground? Because realistically we don’t have the time or resources here at Quinnipiac to fully complete an accurate feedback analysis. Any ideas?