One of the key tasks of a leader is to continually seek ways to improve the way in which their team operates - constantly challenging paradigms and questioning "the way we do things around here", will ensure the team remains at optimum performance levels.

However, it is also important to stay within an overall long term strategy and not effect change for change's sake. Here are some thoughts on moving forward in a structured manner.

First, keep the key management functions in mind:

• Define objectives (your own and others)

• Plan (and time) action

• Communicate (throughout the process)

• Support others' action

• Evaluate performance (and link to the future)

• Then relate this to the task, the team and the individual people

Keeping the Overall Management Process in Mind:

Define Objectives:

• Task - Identify task and constraints

• Team - Set targets and Involve team

• Individual Needs - Agree targets and responsibilities

Plan:

• Task - Establish priorities

• Team - Structure and delegate

• Individual Needs - Assess skills, train and delegate

Communicate:

• Task - Brief and check understanding

• Team - Consult, obtain feedback

• Individual Needs - Listen, advise and enthuse

Support/Control:

• Task - Monitor progress, check standards

• Team - Co-ordinate, reconcile conflict

• Individual Needs - Recognise, encourage and counsel

Evaluate:

• Task - Review, re-plan and summarise

• Team - Reward success, learn from failure (and success)

• Individual Needs - Appraise, guide and train for the future

This view encapsulates, and simplifies, the whole process.

With this picture in mind certain key issues are worth a mention:

Link to the Future:

Ongoing success as a manager is influenced by:

• The attitude you take to the transition

• What you do before you move into a new appointment

• The early focus you bring to bear on key issues

• The relationship you thus cultivate with staff

• The working habits you create for yourself (and others) in process

Together, all the above influence early success in the job - and how you take things forward into the future.

Key Issues:

From the beginning, always operate on the basis that managing people:

• Takes time - you cannot get so bound up in your own workload that you skimp on time you should spend with others

• Takes effort - it is challenge, there are no magic formulae or quick fixes that will do the job for you

• Needs thought - the obvious or immediate answer may not be best, things may well need research, analysis and thinking through

• Is not a solo effort - seek and take advice from where you can, including your own staff

• Will not always go right - as Oscar Wilde said, "Experience is the name so many people give to their mistakes": admit your mistakes (publicity if necessary) and learn from your experience

Remember too that managing people:

Is a process of helping others to be self-sufficient - this implies trust and that management works best when you take a positive view of what people can do (and do not see your role as a sort of corporate security guard)

Is based on good, regular and open communication - something that pervades many issues commented on in these pages

Needs to be acceptable to people before it can be effective - hence the crucial role of motivation as part of the management task

Become self-sustaining when it works - i.e. if people find your management helpful (to the job, the organisation and to them) then they will support it and support you

Overall, management is not what you do to people but the process of how you work with people to help prompt their performance. Work with people from day one, and go on doing it throughout your management career.

At the end of the day success comes down to a considered approach. Charge in, desperate to make an impression, go at everything at once in order to make an impression, and disaster may closely follow. 'Twas ever thus:

"First organise the near at hand, then organise the far removed.

First organise the inner, then organise the outer.

First organise the basic, then organise the derivative

First organise the strong, then organise the weak.

First organise the great. Then organise the small.

First organise yourself, then organise others".

General Zhuge Liang

Perhaps we should highlight the last sentence: "First organise yourself, then organise others"

Last Word:

Being a leader is a challenge but it is also almost infinitely rewarding to create and maintain a team of people who deliver excellent performance and produce whatever results are targeted. It is a task that takes time, requires effort and needs a considered approach.

All sorts of things can help, but only one person can guarantee that you become a good leader - and that's you.