The ABC's of
Management
December 8, 2003
In their book, Putting the One Minute Manager to
Work, Dr. Ken Blanchard and Dr. Robert Lorber identify the ABC's
of management and reveal some startling facts.
A = Activators . . . what a manager does
before performance.
B = Behavior . . . performance, what someone says or does.
C = Consequences . . . what a manager does after performance.
According to Blanchard and Lorber most people
think that activators have a greater influence on performance
than consequences. Yet, only 15-25% of what influences
performance comes from activators like goal setting. while
75-85% of behavior comes from consequences like words of praise
and affirmation.
If those statistics are reliable, then they
highlight the importance of rewards. People are motivated by
rewards. God certainly understands this. The Bible is filled
with promises of the rewards God will give those who follow him.
Perhaps no chapter in the Bible illustrates this
better than Hebrews 11. In a chapter that has been titled, The
Hall of Fame of the Faithful, the author highlights the great
men and women of faith in the Old Testament and the reward God
gave them because of their faith in him.
But a careful reading of the chapter also reveals
many of these great men and women exercised faith because they
looked forward to the reward God promised them . . . a reward
they never fully realized during their earthly life. Indeed,
some even endured hardship in anticipation of a promised reward
(vv. 32-40).
Everyone wants to know they'll be rewarded for
their effort. Effective leaders understand this and use this
human desire to lift morale and improve performance. This week
go out of your way to effusively praise the efforts of your
wife, children, friends and co-workers.
|
