Managing Your Time: Another Tool

By Dr. Michael Beshears

Managing and motivating a team does not mean that you, as the manager, should do all the work yourself.

Remember: Effective leadership requires optimal time management and proper delegation.

Delegation is essential because it frees up your time to focus on higher-level priorities, such as strategic planning, reviewing operations, or addressing critical issues. If an employee you delegated a task to fails to complete it, address the issue directly. Begin with written counseling to identify the problem, then take corrective action. This may involve additional documented training or setting a clear deadline for task completion. Always follow up to ensure the work meets your standards and the company’s standards. If managers fail to check, employees may conclude, “Why should I do a good job if no one is going to notice?”

Just as important, recognize accomplishments. If reprimands are documented in writing, so should positive feedback. Written praise reinforces good performance and builds motivation.

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When Someone Brings You a Problem

When a subordinate or peer comes to you and says, “We have a problem,” your instinct may be to reply, “I’ll take care of it.” The danger is that this shifts ownership of the problem to you, leaving them with no accountability.

A better approach is to guide them while ensuring they retain responsibility:

• For peers: Listen carefully, offer advice or recommendations, and respond with, “Get back to me and let me know how you fixed the problem.” This allows them to keep ownership of the issue.

• For subordinates: Ask them to propose a solution and set a specific date or time to follow up. Document this follow-up in your calendar, so you can check how the problem was resolved. This ensures your time is managed efficiently while reinforcing their responsibility.

In all cases, your role is to provide advice and recommendations, then monitor progress. Only step in directly when the problem requires your authority to resolve.

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Remember:
“You do not want ownership of anyone else’s monkey. Let people fix their problems!”

About the Author: 

Dr. Beshears holds an associate degree in general studies, dual bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and psychology from Drury University, a master’s in criminology from Indiana State University, a master’s in health services management from Webster University, and 18 additional graduate hours in public administration. He earned his Ph.D. in Business with a specialization in Criminal Justice from Northcentral University. A retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant with 22 years of honorable service, he was named Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year at two commands and is a graduate of the Army Leadership Academy. As a civilian, he has worked with local sheriff’s departments, a state drug task force, and the FBI. Dr. Beshears brings over 30 years of teaching experience, both online and in traditional classrooms, having instructed more than 50,000 students in criminal justice, corrections, and management. He has also mentored colleagues in online instruction and strategies for student success.