How to handle subordinates??? Part 1

One thing I noticed recently is that the increase in traffic flow into my blog has one thing in common. They are all related to the title listed above:- How to handle subordinates???

Have you guys ever take note on how subordinates behave? Is that the norm really? Or have we failed to notice it until our recent promotion to a Managerial post? Let's face it. We don't really care until we are in the position of a Manager or Leader. That's when we notice things like that. Because we are in the position to lead, we need to manage people. That's when we realized how difficult human beings can be. And I assure you, the most difficult thing to manage in a Project (regardless of what form of business you do) is humans. Time is a factor, yes. We cannot turn back time. BUT we can manage time because time doesn't have a behavior. It just goes on and on and waits for no man. Time doesn't stop. Time doesn't swing right or cuts to the left when you least expects it. Time just keeps moving forward even if the sky falls apart. So, we can divide time up into small chunks. We can race against time. Think up methods how to beat time. But humans are not time. Unlike time, humans can pose to be the most challenging and demanding creatures. If you know how to deal with them, or even pat them into submission, then you are a winner.

But if you are in the position where you need to submit to their demands, complaints, whining... all those miserable squabbles, then you are ... erm... you still have a long way to go. But you will get there, eventually.

Being the boss/Manager/Leader is no easy task. Do you have the natural talents to be a leader? Does people acknowledge you? Are they willing to follow your lead? Are they willing to die for you? Whoa! That's dramatic! Walk on broken glasses and through fire with you? Just where do you stand? What qualities do you have? You need to do a lot of self assessments before you can even talk about handling subordinates. There are lots of soul searching to do here. Do you have what it takes to manage people and lead them?

Once you know yourself well, then, only then you can start assessing other people. In this case, your subordinates. Rule number 1 here is : Judge yourself first. Determine your strengths and weaknesses. Where do you stand? Are you pragmatic? Fair? Do you pick and choose? Stern? Do you plan things out?

Why are these important? Subordinates bicker when they feel that you are not qualified to lead or manage them. They will show disrespect, throw tantrums like kids, trying to be difficult and unreasonable. Of course. Nobody is perfect, not you, not them. All you can do is improvise. How you improvise and when and where is another different issue. The question is : Are you willing to do what it takes to improve? Are you willing to trudge along, to observe and learn? Handling subordinates is a long winding journey. It takes a lot of patience, observation, trial and error before you can get it right, or at least, get the hang of it.

I'll stop here for today. For those of you who has questions, do feel free to pose them here. Assist you I shall. ;P Hope this helps.

Posted Thursday May 12, 2011