Traditional Management Techniques

All types of management are not equally successful in all work environments.

Managing people can be a difficult task, especially if you don't have much experience with it. Sometimes, taking a traditional approach to managing human resources is the best option for success. Mostly, the way you go about managing people should depend on the type of business you are in and how well you know the people you are managing. Different people require different guidance and also respond to different techniques.

Working as a Team

Some projects and tasks are best handled when people do them in teams. This is especially the case with creative jobs, when people are expected to deliver unique approaches or solutions to problems. Allow the employees to form groups or divide them yourself. Make sure the goals and deadlines are clear to everybody and then let them brainstorm on their own. If you want, you can check in with their progress or have them report back to you, depending on how well you know them and how much you trust them.

Hands-On Management

Taking a hands-on approach to management means you will be over-seeing every step of the project at all times. You should divide the work into smaller tasks, which you then assign to the employees. Ask for their reports and feedback at every stage. Also make it clear that you are available for questions and consultation at any given time.

Delegating

Delegating tasks is appropriate for working environments where you know the people enough to trust them working on their own, without your supervision. Give team members assignments based on who is best skilled to carry them out. Stress the deadlines, and make sure they are clear to everybody. After you distribute the tasks, don't interfere with the work process any longer.

Setting Objectives

With this technique, you have to divide the project into smaller tasks. Set dates and deadlines for each of them to be completed and leave your employees to it. With this approach you tell your employees exactly how you want the project handled as well as when you expect specific aspects of it to be finished.

References

• 1000 Ventures: Traditional Management Model
• Leonile: People Management Skills
• Harvard Business Review: How to Manage People in 15 Minutes a Day
• Bloomberg Businesweek:; A Management Tip Sheet; Jeff Jarvis.