What is the Most Important Rule In People Management?
What is the Most Important Rule in People Management?
The single most important rule of management is this:
"Whatever gets rewarded, gets done."
That single sentence should act as the guiding light which illuminates your thinking about managing and motivating people.
"Whatever gets rewarded, gets done" means, you must become extremely conscious of what behaviours you are rewarding.
The sad truth is that, many bad behaviours are often inadvertently rewarded, (think of a mother giving a misbehaving child a bar of chocolate, in order to pacify him).
The same kind of thing happens in your organisation.
Whatever behaviour gets rewarded, gets repeated.
So, don't fall into the trap of accidentally rewarding bad behaviours.
You should note that the opposite statement is also true: "Whatever behaviours do NOT get rewarded, will soon stop."
If a colleague exerts extra effort, over an extended time, obtaining good results for the business, and that extra effort goes unnoticed and unrewarded, you can be sure that they will be less likely to repeat such efforts.
You should be sure that you and your organisation does not accidentally reward the following behaviours.
- Yes-man mentality
- Indecision (the refusal to make a decision for fear of making a wrong one)
- Chronic risk avoidance
These three behaviours are often rewarded, and consequently the organisation as a whole becomes slow to change and adapt, and thus is at risk of being selected for extinction.
It is vital that you and your organisation recognise and reward the following behaviours:
- Constructive criticism of the current set up
- Creative thinking
- Intelligent risk taking
These three behaviours are often NOT rewarded, and often they are even discouraged.
All successful organisations thrive because they encourage these types of behaviours.
Whenever you see a person giving constructive criticism, or creative thinking, or taking intelligent risks, you should single-out that person for praise, appreciation and reward.
The reward does not have to be money, although it could be.
Rewards can come in the form of personal recognition, appreciation, thanks, and career advancement.
You cannot afford to NOT reward risk taking, creativity and constructive criticism.
You cannot afford to reward Yes-man mentality, indecision and chronic risk avoidance.
Remember the following sentences and ponder their important implications:
- Behaviours I reward, will be repeated.
- Behaviours I fail to reward, will stop.
About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years’ experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
Blogs by Email
Do you want to receive an email whenever we post a new blog? The blogs contain article 5-10 minutes long - ideal for reading during your coffee break!
Further Reading in Leadership and Management
-
Essential Leadership Skills
Failure to master any one of these leadership skills, results in less-than-the-best team performance.
Read Article > -
The Golden Rule of Effective Leadership and Management
The Golden Rule of Leadership and Management Is there one rule, one thing that makes the biggest difference, to your abilities as a leader and manager: Is there a Golden rule of effective leadership and management? Yes, there is. It is this: "Act always in accordance with the principles of reason...
Read Article > -
Training for New Managers
To be a great leader and manager you need a definite set of skills, knowledge and ability. New managers often lack these skills, but the good news is that they can be taught.
Read Article > -
How can I be a confident leader?
Can you communicate your goal, your plan and inspire others? To be a confident leader, you need to develop these six qualities. Take our quiz to find out if you have the necessary qualities to be a confident leader.
Read Article > -
Seven ways to become a better leader
Improve your leadership qualities and put your career on the path to success. Leadership is not just telling people what to do, it is having a vision for the future, making plans and inspiring the team.
Read Article >
Looking for Leadership and Management Training?
If you're looking to develop your Leadership and Management Skills, you may find this Leadership and Management Training Course beneficial:
Open Training Course Pricing and Availability
Next Open Course Starts in 5 days, Online - Teams, places available