Imagination & Creativity - A Tip From The Manager’s Answer Book

Did you ever think about what gives you a different perspective?  Is it a new setting, or situation, or circumstance? Did you ever hear people say that they’re most creative when they are not at work? There’s something about stepping out of your usual routine and environment that allows new ideas to flood our brains.  When you expand your perspective, you expand your horizons as well. 

In 2020, we’ve found ourselves in new and different situations and circumstances. These days people are not at their usual place of work, but are still working, and working amidst distractions and interruptions. Enough to stifle anyone’s creativity, but it’s certainly bringing a new perspective to the way we do things. To paraphrase the title of a Tony Schwartz book, the way we used to work isn’t working anymore. 

Manager’s Tip:  During these difficult times, don’t lose your perspective. Opportunities can grow out of chaos and crisis. Potential can be unlocked creating positive and lasting change for your organization. It’s the time for new ideas and energy, for taking action, and for putting people first. You just have to expand your perspective. One silver lining I see from this pandemic, it will retire, forever, that tired phrase we’ve always done it that way!

As leaders in your organization, you recognize that creativity and innovation are critical – whether it’s developing new products or services or just finding improved ways of doing things.  You want nurture that innovative self inside each and every employee. You

need to start by letting your employees know that you are open to new ideas and suggestions and that you value their creativity. However, recognize that in these times, idea generation is going to take more time and effort. Be patient. Let the process be organic. 

You can read more about imagination and creativity on page 98 of The Manager’s Answer Book a proud 2020 Winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Award. The Manager’s Answer Book is available from Amazon -- https://tinyurl.com/y8umaqpz - Barnes & Noble or your local independent bookstore.

And remember “What you imagine you create.”

A Tip From The Manager’s Answer Book: Your Management Brand

 

As a manager, all eyes are on you.  You bring knowledge, skill and experience to the job. Managing in our current environment is and will continue to be different. As work gradually moves back into offices, managers will have to manage differently and trust their employees. Now more than ever before, the quality of output and results must be the focus of performance measurement, rather than the number of activities or amount of time spent at work stations, in order to sustain productivity, avoid burnout and produce results. 

Successful managers have to show they are not only competent in their area of expertise, but they have to show they are credible, agile, and empathic.  So how do you do that, and why is it important.  

Manager’s Tip:  You do it by creating your personal brand. Your brand is how you present yourself – how you communicate, act and interact with others. As a manager, you are representing the organization – whether interacting inside or outside – so you always want to be mindful of how your actions uphold the organization’s positive culture.  There are critical traits that illustrate a positive personal brand. Clearly at the top of the list are ethics and integrity – being true to your values and principles. You demonstrate this by making decisions that don’t contradict your values, seeking out people with common values and respecting the people around you. Trustworthiness is a close second to integrity.  You show other people that they can trust you by maintaining confidences, exercising discretion and avoiding rumors and gossip.  Listen to your staff and be as transparent as you possibly can. Be fair and consistent with your staff and admit when you are wrong.  And finally courage – having the confidence and integrity when you see something is wrong or not moving in the right direction to say something. Confront wrongdoing no matter where it’s occurring. Step up and do the right thing. Finally, courageous leaders not only speak out and take an opposing point of view, they also advocate for ideas and positions that may not appear to be popular.

You can read more in The Manager’s Answer Book a proud 2020 Winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Award.  Section Four is devoted to creating your personal brand.  Ethics and integrity is discussed on page 111, courage on page 113 and trustworthiness on page 120. The Manager’s Answer Book, is available from Amazon -- https://tinyurl.com/y8umaqpz - Barnes & Noble or your local independent bookstore.

Judge a Book by its Cover

Yes, that’s right. Ignore the old adage that you can’t do so.

Book covers have been consuming our time recently as we move along in our self-publishing process for our up-coming book, They Did What? Unbelievable Tales from the Workplace. There is so much to consider: artwork, font type, color. Will the thumbnail image stand out online? At one of the first Writer’s Digest conferences we attended, we heard a presentation by a designer who said you wanted to keep one word in mind, crap, and keep it in mind for a good reason. 

CRAP is an acronym for C=Contrast; R=Repetition; A=Alignment; and P=Proximity. These are all important elements of book cover design, in addition to the others we mentioned. It was at that point—over seven years ago—that we vowed to each other that when (not if) we finished and self-published what we thought would be our next book, we would definitely turn to the professionals and abandon any DIY thoughts.

Does the advice of don’t judge a book by its cover apply to people in the context of making first impressions? Perhaps, but let me share a recent experience.  

Since the spring of 2020, living and working from home has been a reality for all of us. Is working in pajamas, sweats, t-shirts and, shorts effective? You’ll have to judge that for yourself. Recently, I was getting ready for a day where I had two calls scheduled. The first an informal Zoom meetup with friends, and the second, an interview for a podcast on the Go To Meeting platform. I put on a nice, but plain, turquoise top and realized that some jewelry, which I’ve hardly been wearing lately, would dress it up. This was accompanied by, yes, a pair of shorts.

When I got on the Go To Meeting platform, I realized there were both audio and video components.  Although only the audio would be recorded, while I was talking to the host during the interview, I could see myself on camera. It gave the experience a more personal touch. The addition of the jewelry, I realized, gave me a more professional look and put me in the right mindset for the interview. I was judging myself by my own appearance, positive and professional. 

In these times, sometimes the little things, like a different shirt or the addition of accessories (other than a mask) can make the world of difference in how you feel about yourself. It’s an individual experience. For me, on that particular Friday, I can say that I didn’t look nor feel like, well, CRAP.

P. S. In the coming weeks, we should have a book cover for They Did What? Unbelievable Tales from the Workplace to share. 

A Tip From The Manager’s Answer Book: Beyond People Management

I was once asked during a radio interview: When I think of being a manager, I think of managing people. Can you comment on other things a manager deals with, managers, and/or has to understand?

Wow. This takes on a whole different dimension in 2020. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic change was thrust upon us without notice, and without the benefit of planning. The future of the workplace became the present overnight. Managers are finding they have more of a role in managing technology with the proliferation of virtual meetings and use of collaboration tools. They have to create, manage, and implement new processes. They also have to manage change – the challenges both they and their staff are struggling with as they work from home. 

Manager’s Tip: Depending on your organization, you may be called on to manage a special project or program from time to time. This may involve bringing together a team of people from different departments – people for whom you have no direct authority over – to work on a new initiative. This is where your influencing skills are helpful. You are also responsible for managing resources in your organization. You may have to manage materials if you are manufacturing a product. Most managers have a budget and have to manage financial resources. If your organization has proprietary assets – information or products – that must be protected you and your staff must follow procedures to keep the intellectual property safe. And you may find yourself managing customers and outside business partners. The key to managing service providers is to set clear expectations and hold them accountable – just as you would your internal partners and employees. Likely there are contracts in place with these providers, so become acquainted with the terms and conditions of those contracts. 

You can read more about managing budgets, projects, and resources in Section 1 of The Manager’s Answer Book starting on page 15. The Manager’s Answer Book is a proud 2020 Winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Award. It’s available from Amazon -- https://tinyurl.com/y8umaqpz - Barnes & Noble or your local independent bookstore.