Management Student FAQ's

Guide on how to search for information on the internet

Access how to search for information on the internet and learn some useful tips on how to search for information on the internet, using different search engines.

This will be very useful to refer to throughout completing Management qualifications.

What's the best tool for setting goals for a team?

One of the most popular and effective tools for goal setting is the SMART system.

SMART is an anagram of:

Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic and
Timeframe defined

If your goal meets each of these criteria, it can be considered a SMART goal and is therefore more likely to be achieved.

Here's an example:

Goal: 'I will be manager of a laboratory of at least 20 people in the food manufacturing industry by the time I am 24 years old.'

Let's put it through the SMART test:

Is it Specific?
It defines what the person wants. It could be more specific by saying what type of laboratory in what type of food industry.

Is it Measurable?
Another way to ask this question is "How will I know if I achieve it?". For example, 'I want to be happy' is not a SMART goal.

Is it Achievable?
Maybe this question should be ' is it relevant?' This one probably is. There are no immediately obvious reasons for it to be completely impossible.
 
Is it Realistic?
For most of us, a goal like 'I want to be a supermodel' probably isn't, but then there is no telling what determination can achieve! Some of the most successful people in the world started off with unrealistic goals. Who would have thought a B-grade movie actor could become president of the USA or a nun could save thousands of poor people from disease and starvation?

Is the Time frame defined?
A goal is only a dream unless it has a due date. Planning for an achievement `one day' or `tomorrow' usually means `tomorrow never comes'.

Reputation

An important function of the leader is to foster, develop and protect the reputation of their organisation. When a leader represents a team of people they are really representing the organisation. Every action that they take as a leader will affect the way in which the organisation is perceived by others - especially customers.

Read more about reputation in management.

Vision- The Indispensable Quality of Leadership

Effective leaders have a vision of what they must accomplish. That vision becomes the energy behind every effort and the force that pushes through all problems.

How do I get a vision?

Read more about vision in management.

Supporting and Guiding an Innovative Team

Frontline managers need to provide support to their employees and guide them when necessary if they are going to succeed.

Here are some ways to develop and maintain a supportive work environment.

Coaching

Coaching is a way of training individuals or teams to improve performance on the job, learn a skill, or achieve a goal. The value of coaching is often recognised in sports teams - it's usually the coach who gets fired when the team isn't performing! Coaching can be equally valuable in the workplace.

Take a look at some suggested steps for coaching.

Types of Workplace Conflict

In the workplace (and almost any setting) you are likely to find two forms of conflict.

The first is conflict about decisions, ideas, directions and actions. We will call this 'substantive conflict' since it deals with disagreements about the substance of issues.

The second form, 'personalised conflict' is often called a personality conflict. In this form, the two parties simply 'don't like each other much'.

Read more about types of workplace conflict.

Poor Excuses for Managing Poor Performance Poorly

Do you shy away from giving what is viewed as negative feedback or criticism?

You may if any of these beliefs apply to you...

View the beliefs here.