EMPLOYMENT FOCUS Winning Technique

THERE will always be some managers who are perceived as more successful than others.

They may not be better qualified or more experienced, necessarily, but just seem to have the knack of pulling in better results.

But this need not stay as one of life's unsolved mysteries, according to HR Online consultant Steven Carlin.

Winning Technique

Steven argues that there are techniques for identifying what sort of behaviours bring advantage in a particular set of circumstances, if firms and managers are willing to take time and analyse the differences .

"If we were to look at a group of managers who carry out the same function, all may have taken a similar academic route, all are likely to have been inducted into the organisation in a similar manner and all are likely to have developed similar skills in relation to performing in their job.

"Why then are some managers considered to more successful than others? The distinction lies not in what the manager does but rather the way the manager does it."

Steven criticises traditional management development training, which has focused on developing knowledge and skills, and says this misses out on useful information on the effective behaviours for success in the job.

To avoid this, HR Online uses a technique called Repertory Grid Analysis, where managers are asked to identify and compare the behaviour and attributes of people whose work they know.

"To identify these behaviours and attributes, we would ask the people to whom the managers report to discuss what successful managers look like and how they do their job."

No names are used but participants are asked to contrast the management styles of those they class as most and least successful and to identify the differences in approach which may have a bearing on the outcomes.