MBWA

I found this management tool the most effective in running large organisations.  Simply put MBWA means ‘management by wandering around.’

As an employer you need to know what is going on in your business and to do that you need to be available and visible to your employees. Ask questions, find out what’s happening, be interested in your people, offer assistance where you can, answer questions, offer advice, and be involved where appropriate.

Your availability to your employees will also ensure that;

         “WHAT GETS MEASURED GETS DONE”

This is a business discipline I strongly recommend, if you give people tasks to complete then you MUST measure their progress. MBWA gives the employer the perfect vehicle to ask relevant questions in relation to those set tasks or goals.
I believe that no competent manager should ever be surprised in the work place, as there are a number of signals that indicate all’s not well with a particular employee. In no particular order, these are:

• A sudden and on going lateness for work or meetings.
• Lack of involvement in business discussions and drop off in performance.
• Quiet meetings with other staff members that suddenly stop with your arrival.
• A number of “sick days”.

The most important thing is that you recognise these changes and act upon them and to this end the MBWA principal will be of great assistance.