With all the advances and progression in society and recent discoveries in psychology and humanitarian studies, one would think that the millenia-old concepts of leadership and hierarchy would be long outdated.
Yet this is far from the case, as we discover that effective management within organizations is often the defining difference between companies that excel and those that fall within their markets. Much as it was in the early days of industry and the free market, better leadership and delegation of roles within a company can greatly increase productivity and efficiency.
In the American mindset, individualism and self-centered action generally reign supreme. We feel that we know best for ourselves and our companies and often chafe against any notion of organized hierarchy.
Yet these qualms must be discarded if a company is to succeed, as a well-run company can only be achieved as leadership pursues excellence alongside long-term and short-term tangible goals. This effect is seen in several areas.
First, skilled management is far better at evaluating the capabilities of individuals than they are themselves. This cuts both ways, as people may not see their own strengths and where they can be best applied, or conversely they may not have the humility to admit when someone else is better suited to a task than they are.
Only those removed from the heat of the moment can objectively analyze whether the right people are in the right positions within an organization.
Second, when equipped with the right tools and technology, leadership is better able to discern true levels of productivity and efficiency. Whether through cloud-based project management software or other methods of measurement, leadership is able to remove itself from the front lines and take the pulse of important projects. Better management through web-based project management software will drive sales results exponentially more effectively than a scattered group of “Lone Ranger” salespeople ever will.
Finally, management is able to take the time to ensure that a company’s core values and vision are being preserved through the duration of a project and through the life of the company itself. One-track-minded people dealing with customers all day long can easily start to wear and lose sight of the organization’s ultimate goals, a situation which often erodes the integrity of the company.
Fortunately, effective management is able to quickly pinpoint instances of weakness and correct the problem before good people and important projects are lost.
Managing a project and leading a company are not easy tasks, but in the long run it’s far better to manage than to leave your people out in the cold. Effective management drives sales on a day-to-day basis, increasing the bottom line and pushing productivity far beyond what unorganized individuals could ever achieve on their own.
