Focusing Management Focusing Management AttentionAttention

©2002 Dr. B. C. Paul

Focusing Management Assistance

Especially at first standing back and letting everyone do their own thing may not work well

May need to focus management attention on overcoming some problems with people

The Bell Curve of Worker Performance

Excellent WorkersTrouble Makers

The SilentMajority

Management Attention Many Managers like to focus on the excellent

group. These are the people who will hit the home runs.– If you hang around them - they’ll make you look

good If you get them aimed in the right direction

they will also hit home runs if you don’t hang around them– So why are you spending your time non-

productively

The Trouble Makers

Every crew has a few people who won’t work or specialize in sabotaging others or projects.– Some managers spend all their time fighting

trouble

The Trouble with a Trouble Focus

Some people will not work with you (at least initially) no matter what you do.

Some people are just looking for a free ride Some people take special delight in what

they can foul up. Some people are not as productive as

others

Dealing with the Bottom of the Curve

Initially - Don’t– Most managers ignore the middle where most

of their resource strength is located Focus Initial attention on the middle

– Follow your gung-ho steps– With buy-in your top people will usually roll

away and thrive when given an opportunity to do a clearly defined important job well

– Middle needs your help

Working with the Middle

Gung-ho means– instilling a spirit of value in the work - (work with the

middle)– getting people in a position to succeed– blasting out barriers and holding harassers at bay so

your people can do their job

Focus more performance on the middle– these people will need a bit more work, but when they

get the new spirit of the work place they will thrive.