Business Management Strategies

How do you cope with differences

[grandpa]

I've been offered an opportunity to manage a web business. It's a pretty good offer, but I have concerns.

The current management style is centered in a "seat-of-the-pants" model. There is little organization, lots of inefficiency and tons of clutter. It's the sort of situation I cannot and will not manage. I need organization and orderliness.

My concern is that I won't be able to effectively manage anything because my decisions and style will be over-ridden. Is there a good way to approach an owner and tell them to "get out of the way"? The last thing I want is to find myself, six months down the road, facing an uphill battle over how things are done.

[netguy]

grandpa, just like children, if a group is spoiled over time, it's hard to get them in line later on. If current management realizes they have a problem, then with their help, you may be able to reel the group in and make it more organized.

Depending on the industry, you may not want to completely curtail the group's 'freedoms.' Creativity isn't always based on sitting at a desk 8 hours or more a day, but most of the 'team players' will eventually appreciate methods that increase their productivity.

It is also possible that the CEO has let things get out of hand and rather than being the bad guy/gal, is bringing you in to clean up the mess.

Unfortunately, if everything isn't spelled out in advance with management/owners and their support isn't made aware with the employees - six months down the line, you'll probably be the one blamed for the inefficiencies.

Steve

[johntabita]

I think the best way is to bring up your concern in exactly the same manner you have here. One thing I've learned about establishing business relationships is to manage expectations up front. Be clear on exactly what the owner hopes to accomplish by hiring you and what you hope to accomplish in behalf the organization. Once the objective has been agreed upon, you can discuss the "how" of getting there - your management style, his level of involvement and so forth.

[decaff]

If you can work up a "representation" of how the current business structure is leaving money on the table...then you may be able to convince the owner to "bend some" and accept a more ordered and structured environment...and you will have to convince the owner in order for the culture to change...

But, typically, if a culture has been run from the "seat of the pants" style .. then there will be some serious comfort zone problems to overcome...not to mention the social structure of how the organization works internally...this can be very difficult to overcome and you will go nuts trying to bring order and efficiencies where much baggage is present...

If you can demonstrate how bringing structured business process order will enhance the profitability of the business...this may get everyone's attention...(that is, if the people are driven by profits?)...which the owner should be driven by this variable..(but not always)

[etechsupport]

Business management Strategies also flop because individuals resist the change. The owner says to the management that I am not going to synchronize with you. I'm not going to spend the money where you want me to spend it, much of that gap between expectation and performance is a failure to execute the company's strategy effectively.

[grandpa]

Thanks for the input.

I have a written proposal now. I'm thinking that a contract may be the best option; I can keep my end of it, and it could help remove a lot of potential interference.

<add>
Wish me luck... I'm also making plans for a site development/management project. So you can teach an old dog a new trick ;)
</add>

[etechsupport]

grandpa,

I wish you good luck and success to your new project. grandpa, regarding teaching tricks such experience person like you,we are really very small person. I observe that the techniques or tactics is situational and differ from individuals experience and the merit of the situation, probably no one can proper guide a person for a tactics and techniques on advance.
I think a person can innovate certain techniques himself better. It can well understandable by following example.

Prior to a football game, the coach will have worked out a game plan, which contains general features such as confine running plays to end sweeps because the opponent are too strong up the middle.

A tactics or technique is part of the coach's repertoire utilized for specific situations. This might develop during the course of the game, such as a fake punt.

[grandpa]

Well, my notes (the game plan) came in handy. At times our discussion went off on a tangent, and the notes at least helped me focus. At the end of it all I refused the offer. I might be a lot of things, but a complete idiot is not one of them. I was to be expected to run things, except when the owner felt like he wanted to run them. Pretty much what I anticipated.

Not today....