7 HABITS OF SUCCESSFUL MANAGERS

"Habits are the harbinger of character; character is the mother of destiny"

7 HABITS OF SUCCESSFUL MANAGERS

While managing balance sheets,investment portfolios,and sophisticated financial products,the hardest part of the job is often managing the people at work. Many insightful books have been written on the art of management,communic ation skills,and human relations,yet none has worked better for me than THE BOOK OF JAMES.

Here is some of what I've learned:

1.Treat everyone with dignity and respect

Respect begets respect.It is quite easy to show admiration for your boss and accord respect to the top executives of your company,but it is less common to see managers who truly respect their colleagues and all those under them without showing partiality.James 2:1 tells us "Don't show favouritism".There could be no clearer direction.

2.Let every obstacle become an opportunity

The pathway to growth in the corporate ladder is full of twists and turns.Show those around you that you,as a follower of Christ, can deal with change. As a believer,you not only adjust,you capitalize on the opportunities resulting from unexpected change. We are admonished to "consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials of many kinds" (James 1:2) in order to develop perseverance and become "mature and complete".

3.Keep your own counsel

As a follower of Christ in management,you have a responsibility to make sure that the "gossip buck" stops at your desk. Don't gossip, slander or spread rumours. It is hard to measure the damage to a fellow worker by an " off-the-cuff " remark. "The tongue also is a fire,a world of evil among the parts of the body" (James 3:6). Hear this: "Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it" (James 4:11).

4.Be a good listener

While many books nowadays focus on mastering the art of public speaking for managers,we may risk losing a skill that is invaluable to team work: being a good listener. Samuel Eto'o Fils had this to say after his recent row with team mate, Ronaldinho: "It is so disheartening to realise that, in football, people only know the player,they don't know the person". In our rushed lives, e-mail and voice mail had taken the place of human conversation. Try to understand the person sitting in your office. Put yourself in his/her place. Let them know that you consider them important enough to listen to them. "Everyone should be quick to listen,slow to speak" (James 1:19).

5.Seize the day

While long-term planning is an integral part of corporate management, there is much to be desired in making each day count. Your corporate vision and mission may be grandiose and convincing, but also learn to live your dreams per day. Make the best of each day and encourage your colleagues to do the same. "Now listen,you who say,' Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money'. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow' " (James 4:13-14a).

6.Master your temper, and keep arguments private

Be " slow to become angry" (James 1:19).It is hard to maintain credibility when we lose our temper in front of people and begin an argument that is hard to stop. Count 10 or 20 or 30 before getting angry. When you need to discipline or correct someone, do it in your office as far as you can from the other co-workers.

7.Be patient

Patience is a fruit of the spirit. This implies that it is a sign of maturity. Managing people requires maturity,diplomacy, tact, and a lot of patience. "See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains" (James 5:7)

By following the the management principles outlined by Apostle James 2000 years ago, we can be confident that we are heeding our call to be followers of Christ, even in the 21st century corporate environment.

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WORDALIVE...this is Grace!