Location: Arusha
Problem: Management challenges
Solution: Manager-Assist
A Manager called and made a request for assistance on management issues. This manager was at the point of leaving the job because of several problems in managing subordinates as well as the poor relation with the Director and other managers. After talking to this manager, it was clear that there apart of office issues there were also some family problems caused by not being able to balance the activities between the job and family. Either she was working very hard and neglect the duties of family and other social activities causing her to not be happy with herself and thus having a lot of stress.
After being assured that this happens to many managers and leaving the job will not solve the problem she was able to open up and together discussed the issues on hand.
These issues can be grouped as follows:
(1) Assigning job/activity – clarity on if
- The top director can assign this manager job/activity passing through her immediate director?
- Immediate director assign job to her subordinates directly without passing through her?
(2) How best can a manager communicate to immediate Director, to higher Director, to subordinates as well as other managers in the same level? Where to use oral or written communication between your subordinates, other managers or your superiors?
(3) Wrong assumptions which may lead to stress and poor performance e.g.
- My immediate Director is assigning job to my subordinates directly because I was assigned by the top director directly without passing
through him. - Other Managers are not listening to me because I am a woman.
- My subordinates are not taking me seriously because I am a woman.
(4) How to delegate. Discussion on how to delegate as well as developing the members of the team for more responsibilities. This will make the members feel as part of the team and the manager will get enough time to work on other managerial duties.
(5) How to add new activity in a to-do-list. A manager can receive activities from different managers/directors and all of them as urgent. If an updated to-do-list is not maintained this manager will not be able to suggest the date she can manage to finish the job/activity. At the end non-of these activities will be accomplished – causing tension and poor relationship. With a discussion on the use of to-do-list and how you can accept another activity and give plan on when you can do it after other urgent activities in your list. In this way you can have
time for each activity agreed.
(6) A female manager is very capable if – she will not feel inferior to other managers and they can do their work with productivity.