The Manager - Edition 56 - Managers Provide Clarity - By Rob Lambert

Cultivated Management Newsletter

Hi, 

I hope you've had a great weekend and are looking forward to the week ahead. 
 
I've been busy creating my new management course and it's been harder than expected. Not only am I using video and hence learning how to film and edit, but I'm also learning how to condense 20 years of experience down to digestible chunks of learning.
 
It's been a great learning experience and it reminded me of how effective managers are able to break down complicated ideas, strategies and problems in to something digestible.
 
The best managers are those who provide clarity. Easy, simple, clear.
 

How do they do this?

 
They know their audience. And they make the message suitable for this audience, and to the lowest common denominator - i.e. the person with the least knowledge and experience.
 
They are clear about the purpose of their communication. They know what they are trying to achieve. No matter the purpose (inspire, motivate, give direction, entertain etc) - they make the message relevant, short and clear. After all, good communicators don't waste another person’s time.
 
They are clear about the Context in which the message will be received. Will people be gathered in a room, or will it be communicated in a 1:1, or via email? The context in which the communication takes place will alter the way a manager constructs and delivers the message.
 
They know their Content. They know it so well that difficult questions are few and far between - they know the answers to most things. They have the facts and data.
 
They are humble. When they don't know the answer, they say so. But they instil confidence as they know the main bulk of the message. Nobody needs a manager who doesn't know the basic answer to a basic question.
 
They gather feedback. When they communicate, they get feedback, and they adjust. This may be from reading the room, the body language of individuals, the tone of responses via email. Whatever the medium - they get feedback and they adapt if they need to.
 
They know that communication is something the listener does. So, until the listener has received the message and given feedback that they have understood it - the manager has NOT communicated it well. So, they learn and adapt and try again.
 
Managers who achieve and use the above will communicate effectively, assuming they learn and improve. Sadly, too many managers and leaders don't put in the effort needed to communicate with clarity. And they don't learn.
 
These managers wonder why they don't get positive business results or high engagement from their people.
 
It's quite simple really.
 
Leaders and managers who are clear and to the point –> they provide the clarity people desire at work. They make the direction of movement and results easy for people to get behind and make sense of.

And with clarity comes deep learning, rapid movement and clear feedback. And we all thrive when we work in that environment.
 
Go forth and be clear.
 
Rob

My week in pictures

This last week I was in London to record a promotional video for an agency I do some work through. Much fun. And always nice to visit London. This is Borough Market. 

And yes, I've been recording a video about management. Took me ages to get the camera, background and lighting sorted! Lots of information about Tech management - I'll let you know when the course is ready!

Cool Stuff To Click On

1 - I love this. As leaders and managers we should be asking "How" we can do something. 

2 - Set high standards and push past them - show others how the bar can always be raised. Sounds like something straight out of a Cultivated Management course :)

3 - Very important lesson here. Although this post is about publishing books, the paragraph about how the Chief Editor would grill his editors on Profit on Loss is important - as managers we too should know this stuff. It's unbelievable how many managers don't even know what their business results are, let alone how what they do contributes to the profit and loss of a business. You really should know your finances. 

4 - In the future will we look back at our mobile phones in the same way we now look at cigarettes?

5 - A guide on how to be successful. 

6 - Do you enjoy your job? I hope so, because this is what happens to your body when you don't enjoy it.

7 - Solving problems without being too helpful :)

Thanks for reading this week's edition of The Manager. 

Thanks
Rob..