Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

The continuing fragmentation of society and the various priorities that have come about from that fragmentation has been spilling over into the workplace for years. It is still extremely hard to make any decision without someone challenging or possibly resenting that decision. Without us knowing it, it creates tremendous pressure on us as we are many times caught off guard by what seems like simple things that shouldn't have any big effect upon workers in any way. I'm sure you've had this happen many times in your experience as a manager.

In reality, this is becoming one of the chief skills that any effective manager will need to successfully navigate this growing minefield; to manage people with multiple ideas, preferences and outlooks.

The major point I want to make today is to understand that this is a reality that will be around for a long time. Don't think of it as something unique or that is happening to only you.

How do we manage this growing uniqueness among human beings? What do we do when something we think of as trivial is a major issue for another employee? How about when several or more employees all have different ways of looking at things that is connected to the company? How is a team put together while allowing there to be individuality expressed within it?

It's obviously impossible to come up with any one answer to the myriads of differences that can come up even in one day of work; let alone over a long period of time. We can keep a few thoughts in mind that will help us to manage and handle the great majority of circumstances that we will be faced with.

The first thing we need to do as managers is to take seriously whatever our employees bring to us. This doesn't mean we have to approve of everything; but we do need to show respect no matter what it is.

Secondly, we need to always have before us the overall purpose of the company. Many times when we get taken way of center, we need to recall what it is the company exists for and approach the numerous disparities in that way. Doing this helps to take care of probably 75% of all problems.

Last, understand that these opposing forces will always exist among a group of people whenever they get together. Don't be caught off guard by all these opposing forces, but embrace them as part of the society we live in.

People have been empowered and are being set free at a pace unprecedented in history. We are caught in the middle of that entire change process. This isn't going to go away. It crosses all age brackets, nationalities, genders and affiliations.

I have found that respect, listening and keeping the purpose of the company as a filter through which to measure all of these pressures, is helpful in taking care of the majority of individual uniqueness that you'll encounter from day-to-day. Have you found yourself facing these pressures?