Friday 27 February 2015






Image result for 5 Questions Great Managers Need to Ask Themselves Daily




culled from:http://www.entrepreneur.com

LinkedIn Influencer, Meg Whitman, published this post originally on LinkedIn.
Whether in the office or on the road, I’m often asked about leadership and my personal set of management principles. With that in mind, I thought I would share a checklist that I’ve presented to HP leaders, outlining the fundamental questions I want our teams asking themselves every day. These five questions are extremely straightforward, but that’s the point – no company can succeed in executing its bold strategies if the basics aren’t being taken care of.

Question 1: Do you know your competitors better than they know themselves?

From your top competitor to the ambitious underdog, you should know what your competitors are doing strategically and operationally. Ask yourself honestly, where and how do they outperform you? What can you learn from them and do differently? What’s your value proposition that beats the competition? You should always know what it will take to win in your chosen field.
Related: What Matters Most to Your Business? (LinkedIn)

Question 2: Does every one of your customers feel like they are the only customer you have?

I’ve been a broken record on this topic throughout my career – the customer needs to be at the center of every single thing you do. Companies, particularly large ones, are often far too focused on historical performance and internal operations. There’s absolutely no excuse for it. Your strategy and approach need to be tied directly to your customers’ evolving needs, not what has worked in the past or what’s easiest to execute internally.

Question 3: Do you have the right person in the right job at the right time with the right attitude?

The right person for a job can vary based on fluctuating needs. Someone who has performed an exemplary job leading one leg of a journey may not be ideally suited for the next. Does the person have the right skills to tackle the specific challenge at hand? The right experiential frame of reference? The right leadership traits to inspire action? If not, can those issues be resolved? If the answer is no, a change must be strongly considered.

Question 4: Do you insist your people escalate fast enough?

As leaders, it’s your obligation to raise issues even when doing so is uncomfortable. Leaders need to create a culture in which people in all roles feel comfortable doing the same. Especially in fast-moving industries, you can’t sit on your hands and hope someone else solves the problem. At HP, if we’re at risk of losing a deal, I want our leaders calling me or camping out in front of my cubicle to tell me why and how they think we can fix it. I’ve implemented a simple rule: escalate in 24 hours and resolve in 48 hours. And we don’t tolerate too many excuses for not following that rule.
Related: The Power of Transparent Communication (LinkedIn)

Question 5: Do you hold yourself and your teams accountable?

My message to HP employees on this topic has been consistent – we are all accountable for our destiny. Unlike in old Westerns, there is no cavalry to come to the rescue. Every member of the team needs to take personal responsibility for success. That means having an aggressive focus on what matters most: action, results and the customer.
What’s on your checklist? What questions do you need to ask yourself and your team every day to win in your field?

47 comments:

  1. the best solution to know yourself, analyse your problem and define a solution to it.

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  2. Bello Ayodele David
    Most mangers don't know what the questions to ask when facing business challenges. Meg Whitman has done a great job outlining all this questions. Good article

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  3. If managers would be asking these questions from themselves daily and finding answers to them these will make them more effective.
    OJEDOKUN DAMILOLA ELIZABETH

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  4. ADELEKE BEATRICE OMOLOLA
    This is like explaining the 5p's in marketing because the questions centers on how well you know your customers and products

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  5. ADEDIRAN ADEBAYO EMMANUEL
    Its pertinent to understand that these question are need by a manager to go far in life.

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  7. A good manager should be able to manage the 5M's effectively,the men,market,machine,money and market to promote efficiency.

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  8. A good manager should be able to manage the 5M's effectively,the men,market,machine,money and market to promite efficiency.

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  9. A Good Manager should be able to give a Diversification and a introducing an Experienced Market strategist in order to improve the rate of Sales and Development of the Company this is in Addition to the Above Characteristics

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  10. A good manager must manager must have answers to this 3 question WHAT TO PRODUCE?HOW TO PRODUCE?FOR WHOM TO PRODUCE and also manage the 5M"s of marketing

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  11. ADEYANJU LATEEF ADEWALE; A good manager should be able to manage 5M's of marketing effectively.

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  12. OLAGBAYE OLUFEMI TOSIN; A good manager should be able to answer these five questions when been asked .

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  13. ADEBAYO ADEIFEMI ADEYEMI; A good manager should be able to ask him/herself these 5 questions.

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  14. know your competitors, analyse your market, make budget, communicate with your costomers and be wise. A good manager most ask the 5 questions also to be successful.
    ADESOGAN OLUWAKEMI MARY

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  15. If a manager can work on this it will improve the manager skill in achieve is objective. Oyeniyi Oyedapo Oluwaseun

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  16. To become a great manager firstly, u need to be determine and ready to take challenges that may arise, Also, have foresight.
    RAHEEM BASIRAT YETUNDE.

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  17. All managers need to know this because it will help them a long way. Managers will need improved skills. IYIOLA ANTHONY

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  18. All managers need to know this because it will help them a long way. Managers will need improved skills. IYIOLA ANTHONY

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  19. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  20. Nice article. managers need to see weakness and convert them to strength. AGBAJE RUKAYAT

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  21. every great managers should ask themselves daily what is the goal hes aiming at and has he achieve it or close it achieving it IYANDA SODEEQ ISHOLA

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  22. OJENIKE OLUSOJI PETER: For a business to meet up with the objective set aside, the management needs to work on how their individual products will be in the mind of their respective customers...

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  23. OLALERU ABIOLA MICHEAL.for a manager to be effective he must be result oriented that is he must be after getting the best result for the business among competitors with every available resources.

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  24. a great manager should be able to make great impact in the life of the jib and organization he his managing. a manager must be positive in his daily activities to reach his potential as a manager

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  25. A great manager needs to ask him or herself questions time to time to make him knows the way forward to some business challenges..... OBAFEMI GOODNESS JEREMIAH

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  26. If managers would be asking these questions from themselves daily and finding answers to them these will make them more effective. ADEBAYO DARE DAVID

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  27. A good manager must be able to work effectively to meet the organization need and the challenges facing the business.

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  28. To ask if his leadership skill has been effectively utilised in terms of, 1 is our organisation performing up to the task?2 can we be able to withstand series of challenges ahead?has the opportunity on ground properly tapped?

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  29. a good manager must outline all the problem that are facing the company and put in place a remedy. and also must able to check if their is no any redundant worker around him

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  30. Here, it shows that a manager needs to sit and think deeply the best way to implement solutions to problems arising This a good tip to follow

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  31. Managers need to show skills of managing to enhance company operation stability

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  32. LUKMON BISOLA Managers trait must be able to inspire action...

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  33. AARE OLUWATOSIN IBIRONKE
    Manager on their own should be able to ask themselves if their strength is enough to compete with people in the same line of business with them.

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  34. If these questions can be answered without doubt, then the company is moving in the right direction.

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  35. This question needs be ask after they have settled down, in order for them to make a good decision.

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  36. If managers would be asking these questions from themselves daily and finding answers to them these will make them more effective by Makinde Dorcas Kehinde

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  37. A great manager needs to ask him or herself questions time to time to make him knows the way forward to some business challenges by Shoneye Abosede Adetutu

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  38. before a manager to be effective he must be result oriented that is he must be after getting the best result for the business among competitors with every available resources. by Ayelaagbe Busayo Christianah

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  39. a manager must be able check what was the contribution he and his subordinate contribute on the daily bases and must able rectify if any lapses arise.
    a manager must able to delegate what to do in the company. and check the work done of himself and the company.

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  40. Question number one and five question must be given preferential treatment

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  41. ADEISYAN OMOLADE OLUWASEUN: From your top competitor to the ambitious underdog, you should know what your competitors are doing strategically and operationally

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  42. The 5M's of management is the key to becoming a great manager.

    By: Lasisi Afeez

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  43. The right person for a job can vary based on fluctuating needs

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  44. A great Manager must posses the ability to meet organizational goals and work effectively with the 5M's to succeed.

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  45. A good manager should be able to manage the 5M's effectively,the men,market,machine,money and market to promote efficiency.

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  46. And we don’t tolerate too many excuses for not following that rule.

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  47. Whether in the office or on the road, I’m often asked about leadership and my personal set of management principles. With that in mind, I thought I would share a checklist that I’ve presented to HP leaders,

    ReplyDelete