Get Results — Even When You’re U

As a manager, you likely know the importance of collecting ideas from a diverse set of employees. But how do you create an environment where people on your team, regardless of their role or status, feel empowered to speak up and push new ideas forward or revive older ones that have been discarded? Here are a few tactics to try.

Rethink project calendars. Prioritize what’s most critical, and defer what you can. For example, does there really need to be a system upgrade every year, or would every other year be fine? Chances are, some of your initiatives can wait.

Prioritize core stakeholder needs. Delivering a little to all your stakeholders, whether they're clients or customers, might end up leaving everyone dissatisfied. Identify who deserves the most attention, and focus your limited resources on them — even if that means paring down your portfolio.

Find quick interventions. Look for ways to substantially improve efficiency. For example, can you automate data entry, converting paper forms into electronic ones that clients enter themselves? Optimizing tedious tasks can free up employees to do work that drives more value.

This tip is adapted from “3 Strategies for Managing an Understaffed Team,” by Margaret M. Luciano