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People management tip of the month: do it now!

We all know that when it comes to getting something done there’s no time like the present. It is better to do it now than put it off until later. However, we can all be our own worst enemies when it comes to putting off certain tasks or seizing a new opportunity while it’s still hot.

“Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.” — Napoleon Hill

My business people management tip of the month: Do it now!

Don’t miss an opportunity to create something good

If you see an opportunity, seize it sooner rather than later. If you are waiting for a better time to act, you may find that by the time you get round to taking an opportunity, that ship will have sailed long ago. In challenging times, we take a fight, flight, or curl up in a ball approach and often feel more hesitant to seize new opportunities. Case in point is the COVID-19 situation.

If business is slower because of the pandemic, or you have staff on JobKeeper, the opportunity is there now to invest in their learning and development so that they become even more valuable when things start to pick back up again. What’s more, an investment in their learning and development will make them feel more engaged and motivated to help you achieve your business aims.

A higher performing team may just be the edge you need to weather any future storms. Taking this long-term view can feel risky in the short-term, but it is smart leadership strategy as long as you ensure that you measure ROI on their training.

Don’t put off addressing a problem in the hope it will fix itself

Seize the bull by the horns, so to speak.

People management problems you might encounter could be:

  • poor communication
  • too much to do and not enough time to do it
  • difficult people who don’t want to do what you want them to
  • poor staff morale

These issues, while complex and often deep-rooted, can have simple solutions. At the core of the issue could be that you need to audit your company culture to make it better serve both your people and your customers. Discover these 5 steps to improving workplace culture.

There’s one thing for sure, the problem won’t go away by itself. Tackle the issue holistically and formulate a plan of action.

Don’t let your discomfort get in the way of leading and engaging your team

Leadership is a whole different ballgame in a crisis. While many of the fundamental principles of strong leadership remain the same, business leaders are under a lot more pressure than usual to keep things afloat.

Good is not the enemy of great

Sorry, Jim Collins, but perfect is actually the real enemy of great, because it stops us from taking action, even when we can’t be confident about the outcome.

Learn by doing​

The theory is all well and good but it takes practice to make something great. Don’t be afraid to test and learn, encouraging your people to do the same. Mistakes can often be where the magic happens as they give you the opportunity to adjust your strategy according to reality. For this to work your team need to feel empowered and to trust them, you need to set up performance metrics.

About Susan Rochester

Susan is Senior Consultant and Coach at Aster HR. She also co-hosts the Work Wonders podcast with Angela Gauci. With over 20 years experience in consulting and coaching, Susan provides clarity and insights for our clients based on past experience and the latest research.

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