What I learned from "The One Minute Manager" by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson

"The One Minute Manager" is a popular management book written by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson. 

It revolves around the concept of effective and efficient management using a simple and time-efficient approach. 

I didn't know what to think when I first picked up the book, because it was small and the title was witty.

But, then again like I always do, I followed the old adage that says " don't judge a book by its cover" so I delved in to read.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the book:

1. Set Clear Goals: The authors emphasized the importance of making sure to set specific, clear and measurable goals for yourself and your team. 

By defining specific goals, and communicating them clearly as a manager, you get to provide your team with a clear direction and a sense of purpose.

2. Practice One Minute Praising: Catch people doing things right and provide immediate, specific praise. Recognize and acknowledge their efforts to reinforce positive behavior and motivation.

These praise has to be done in a timely manner so the employee can correctly associate their actions to the praises, so they can be encouraged to do it more.

3. Implement One Minute Reprimands: Address mistakes or performance issues promptly and constructively. Focus on the behavior, not the person, and provide feedback that encourages improvement.

This is geared towards removing the thinking in the mind of the employee that maybe he is not liked, but rather they will understand that their actions are questionable and not their person.

4. Establish One Minute Goals: Create concise and measurable goals that can be communicated in a minute. Clearly define expectations to guide employees' actions and enable self-evaluation.

When you try to create a one minute goal you will realize that it is necessary to make the goal an achievable one and not one filled with fluffs.

5. Empower and Delegate: Grant employees the authority and autonomy to make decisions within their responsibilities. Trust their judgment and encourage ownership and accountability.

This is how new leaders are built, you start by trusting them with little decisions and then progress to bigger decisions.

6. Foster Effective Communication: Maintain open and honest communication with your team. Provide regular feedback, both positive and corrective, to foster a healthy working relationship and ensure everyone is on the same page.

This makes sure that everyone on the team knows their place and is always carried along.

So, if you haven't tried it yet, I recommend you implement these action points and you will be amazed at its effectiveness.

Thank you for stopping by.

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