Developing Self-Managed Associates

Definition of Self Management

1. If you know you are supposed to do something, do it.

2. If you know you are not supposed to do something, don’t do it!

3. If you aren’t sure.....Ask!

Advantages of Driving Decisions Further into the

Organization

• Increases the involvement and connection of our associates

• Frees managers’ time to focus more on high-value work

• Often leads to better decisions because the associates are closer to the issue

• Provides learning and teaching opportunities to the associates and the managers

• Allows us to implement changes faster

Advantages to Managers• Every time you can move an associate up just one

level, your life gets easier• When you get to Level 3, the associate has taken

on both the credit and the accountability for the decision

• By Level 4, you have the option of doing nothing and letting the recommendation go forward without intervention

• By Level 5, you are dealing with FYI’sBy reaching a point where the 25 issues

requiring an answer from you are reduced to 10, you have raised your value to a new level. Equally important, the associate now has a bigger stake in how decisions work out.

Advantages to Associates• It involves the associates in the operation of the

business• It ties the associate to the action taken• It provides learning opportunities• It provides an opportunity for any associate to make

a difference• It sets clear expectations and provides an effective

communication tool with their manager

What Determines the Appropriate Level for Each

Associate?• Level 1 and 2 are only appropriate if the associate

bringing the issue has NO knowledge of the subject involved

• Level 3 should be the minimum acceptable level within an associate’s area of responsibility

• Levels 4 and 5 will develop between each associate and his/her manager based on

• The experience level of the associate• The confidence level of the manager• The importance of the issue involved

Name The Level1. “We have a number of people scheduled to attend tomorrow’s

meeting who will be traveling. I can either move this meeting to next week or see how many could call in for the meeting tomorrow. What do you want me to do?”

2. “I can’t print the document you requested because the printer is jammed. I called IT and it should be fixed in about 30 minutes.”

3. “The toilet in the bathroom is backed up. What do you want me to do?”

4. “I had to move our store meeting until Thursday morning. Unless you tell me otherwise by the end of the day, I will get donuts and bagels for the group and send out a memo to let the group know."

5. “I know we had planned to go to a movie at 6 but I have to work a little late. I suggest we either go to the 8:30 pm show or I can meet you at the theatre at 6. I’m pretty tired so I recommend meeting you at the theatre at 6:00 pm. What would you like to do?”

• If you know you are supposed to do something, do it.• If you know you are not supposed to do something,

don’t do it!• If you aren’t sure.....Ask!

Questions?