The New One Minute Manager
Ken Blanchard, Spencer Johnson
15 min
7 Key Points
4.4 RateWhat's inside?
Discover efficient management techniques that take only a minute to implement, transforming your leadership style and boosting team productivity.
You'll learn
1. The big three of management: Quick Goals, Quick Praise, Quick Fixes2. Boosting work output, happiness, and wealth3. Setting clear and achievable targets4. The power of a pat on the back at work5. Handling slip-ups and boosting performance6. Tailoring your management style to fit the person and the problem.Key points
01Get stuff done quick, but do it right
Imagine you're a coach. You don't spend hours lecturing your team, but instead, you give quick, powerful instructions that lead to a winning game. That's the essence of the one-minute management style. It's all about making every minute count, guiding your team efficiently and effectively towards the goal. Successful managers are like conductors of a symphony orchestra. Each musician plays a different instrument, and the conductor doesn't play every instrument. Instead, they know how to bring out the best in each musician to create a harmonious performance. Similarly, a manager doesn't need to be a jack-of-all-trades. They just need to know how to use each team member's unique skills and abilities to get the best results. Think about it. Two employees might both work in marketing, but one might be a whiz at creating engaging content, while the other is a pro at analyzing market trends. A good manager recognizes these differences and delegates tasks accordingly. This way, each task is handled by the person best equipped to do it. This not only leads to better results but also makes employees feel valued and satisfied, as they are given tasks that align with their strengths. Communication is key in this management style. Managers need to clearly convey their expectations to their employees. It's like giving a driver a roadmap for a journey. If the driver knows the destination and the best route to get there, the journey becomes smoother and faster. When employees know what is expected of them, they can set smart goals that align with the organization's objectives, leading to growth and development. In a nutshell, the one-minute management style is both results-oriented and people-oriented. It's about making the most of each minute, each task, and each team member. This leads to greater productivity and success in less time. It's a clear roadmap for becoming a more effective manager, where every piece of advice is a stepping stone towards this goal. So, let's make every minute count!
02Make your goals clear and simple
In the fast-paced world of work, it's crucial to set goals that are easy to understand and quick to grasp. That's where the idea of "one-minute goals" comes in. These are goals that are short, clear, and have a specific deadline. They give employees a clear picture of what they need to do, how to do it, and when it needs to be done by. Why is this so important? Well, in a world where things change quickly and attention spans are short, it's vital to make tasks as simple and straightforward as possible. By doing this, managers can help their teams be more productive. When employees know exactly what they need to do, they can focus their energy and attention on getting the job done, which means they can work more efficiently and produce better results. But there's more to it than just setting clear goals. Good managers also know how to delegate tasks. This can be a challenge for some managers, who might be worried about mistakes being made or feel a strong personal connection to their projects. But trying to control everything can lead to micromanaging, which is tiring for the manager and not helpful for the team. Instead, once an employee has shown they can handle responsibility, managers should trust them to get on with their tasks. This way, the manager isn't spread too thin and the workflow can run smoothly. So, how do you write a one-minute goal? It should be something an employee can read and understand in a minute. This helps to keep things clear and simple, and it means employees can get straight to work. And what if a goal isn't met, or if there's a problem? That's when the manager steps in to figure out what's going wrong and how to fix it. This not only solves the immediate problem, but it also helps the team learn how to deal with similar issues in the future. The best way to use one-minute goals is for managers and teams to work together to set the goals, decide how progress will be measured, and give team members the freedom to be creative in how they achieve the goals. And remember, it's not just about how much work is done - it's about the quality of the work. That's why it's so important to set clear, concise goals that help employees focus on doing their best work.
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03Don't forget to give a pat on the back
04Quick chats to fix mistakes
05Make sure what you do matches your goals
06Share your boss tricks with the team
07Conclusion
About Ken Blanchard, Spencer Johnson
Ken Blanchard is a renowned leadership expert, speaker, and author, known for his groundbreaking work in management. Spencer Johnson was a physician and author, best known for his motivational book "Who Moved My Cheese?" Both co-authored the influential management book "The New One Minute Manager."
