The Innovative Leader: Skills for Effective Management

Running Head: EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT

The Innovative Leader: Skills for Effective Management

Tiffany Anderson

Submitted to Dr. Liz Lentz-Hees

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for

WED 398 Special Problems

Southern Illinois University

Kirtland AFB, New Mexico

August 17, 2004

Abstract

It is understood that management, which is defined as the act, manner, or practice of managing, handling, supervision, or control directly affects almost every aspect of the workplace (American Heritage, 2000). An incompetent or careless manager can have a devastating impact on an organization. This incompetent manger can cause and perpetuate decreased employee performance, dissatisfied customers, and poor production. An effective manager will avoid such effects through circumspect consideration and implementation of innovative management strategies. The purpose of this paper is to review and discuss such strategies and to provide a formula for exceptional leadership.

THE INNOVATIVE LEADER: SKILLS FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT

Introduction

An innovative leader is an effective manager, and an effective manager is an innovative leader: an ingenious, inventive, and original leader, one who is not afraid to embrace new concepts or reconsider old practices. An innovative leader differs from other managers due to his or her extraordinary creativity, enthusiasm, confidence in subordinates, and innate respect and genuine goodwill for all co-workers. Other managers, who may be content to accept the status quo from the subordinates and organization for which he or she is responsible, become unacceptable to a business (Smith, 2003). These managers cannot compare to the innovative leader, who goes above and beyond to utilize the competencies of staff and to improve the organization. Are you an innovative leader? Let's explore the skills of an effective manager, and find out.

There are a plethora of skills that are necessary for effective management (Humphrey & Stokes, 2000), and there are just as many guidelines and principles that lend themselves to the advancement of admirable leadership. Many of these will be familiar, while others may be more obscure, but it is, arguably, the most valuable of the many management and leadership precepts that this composition will address.

Communication, which is simply the practice of accurately imparting one's thoughts and ideas, is the most prevalent and relevant skill in any organization, and as such, must be established prior to any other managerial actions (American Heritage, 2000). Findley and Amsler (2003) note that the vast majority of performance problems that supervisors experience can be prevented or eliminated by setting and communicating expectations appropriately. Indeed, communication skills are the most basic prerequisite for any manager's success. Another primary skill is that of directing personnel appropriately. Leaders must maintain a good rapport and actively listen to subordinates to ensure mutual trust and respect, and to ensure that no managerial shortcomings impede employees' willingness to promptly and accurately respond to direction.

Employees' responsiveness to leaders' direction is closely associated with workplace morale, another important responsibility of the innovative leader. Managers must ensure that the team or group for whom they are accountable maintain a positive and spirited approach to the "daily grind." As difficult as it may be, managers must avoid mistakes such as passing on their stress to their staff, and blaming external factors, such as upper management or the business climate, if morale is low (Gish, 2003). Finally, strategic solutions for common mistakes, such as the preceding, will be addressed, completing the overview of the skills and capabilities of innovative leaders.

Method

Data for this paper was compiled from various sources, including Southern Illinois University's Morris Library Web page and the Society for Human Resource Management web page, among other Internet sources, as well as Albuquerque, New Mexico public libraries.

Discussion

The elements of success for a manager, as mentioned previously, include the ability to communicate effectively, the ability to direct people appropriately, the appreciation and maintenance of high morale in the workplace, and the awareness and prevention of common workplace problems and mistakes. The first of these, and the most fundamental, is communication.

Communication

Communication lies at the core of management curriculum, but, ironically, it is not always fully realized in terms of behavior. Through communication of expectations, rules, and regulations within your internal culture, staff members will be less frustrated and less likely to fail (Cunning, 2004).

Listening. Communication does not just entail managerial discourse, but listening: earnest and consistent reception of employees' thoughts and feelings. Improving and applying listening skills gives managers an "edge", as it helps them to learn more about what may or may not be working in daily operations (Reitman & Williams, 2001). Listening helps managers to make better decisions and it garners employee respect. Managers who recognize the value of listening should consider setting aside time in staff meetings for employees to voice their concerns and ideas, reinforcing that the manager cares what his or her employees are thinking (Humphrey & Stokes, 2000).

Setting expectations. Another important aspect of communication involves the ability to set expectations and, as necessary, change or modify them. It must be understood that employees cannot logically meet or exceed standards unless there are standards in place. According to Findley and Amsler (2003), job expectations prescribe the performance levels to be achieved by each employee in terms of what is to be done and how

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