NEGOTIATING LIKA A PRO

RULE 1: KNOW WHAT YOU WANT AND HOW MUCH YOU WILL PAY TO GET IT

• figure out how much you think the item is really worth
• decide on the highest price that you will pay
• point out an flaws you can find in the item

RULE 2: BE PREPARED AND READY TO GIVE AND TAKE

• determine what you would like, what you can do without
• what's the least you will accept

RULE 3: DO NOT LET THE OTHER SIDE FOOL YOU

• do not jump at any offer just because it sounds good
• use your good judgement

SHARED FROM ARTICLE BY:

ARTHUR P. GRIMSHAW

HOW TO NEGOTIATE LIKE A PRO

ACCOUNTANTS TODAY 2004

TIPS FOR MANAGERS

LEARN HOE TO HANDLE AUTHORITY

          One of the biggest challenges is the ability to transition from being one of the gang to someone who leads the gang.  Have frank conversation with peers and friends explaining how you will approach your new responsibilities.

BE CONSISTENT AND FAIR
           Don't try to be equal.
           Everyone needs something a little different.
           Inconsistency will lead to complaints of favouritism
           Strike a reasonable balance between serving the best interests of the employee with the business needs


GET TO KNOW EMPLOYMENT LAWS
           You don't have to be an expert, just be familiar enough with the overall philosophy.


THE WAY THE MESSAGE IS DELIVER
           The way you handle the situation.  Keep your language objective and your tone of voice moderate.


SET APPROPRIATE AND REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
           Communicate in a way that everyone understands.


DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK
           Get the issues out in the open.


USE COMMON SENSE AND GOOD JUDGEMENT
          The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were wt when we crested them - Albert Einstein


UNDERSTAND COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHIES
           So as to be able to make sound decisions and provide a fair and consistent environment.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

There is a marked difference between management giving advice and lending a helping hand.  Handling multicultural teams is a challenge on individuals social skills and patience.  Teams involve different people, different cultural values, and different sets of regulatory rules.

The first challenge is to get a group of people to work together

• Togetherness is what a team is all about
• the right 'mix', communication, co-operation, conviction and commitment are things that a team can't do without
• everyone in the team need to be a team player
• team leaders need to place the interests of the team ahead of theirs

The second challenge is to get a good and working team-mix

• innovator
• analyst
• mentor
• expeditor

The third challenge is to set the team to think, act and work as one

• team players are never equal in calibre, maturity and energy
• see and understand the make up of the team
• be constantly aware of their weaknesses and strength

The fourth challenge is to ensure that teamwork is maintained consistently

• objectives must be achievable
• proper work ethics or standards
• time frame

The fifth challenge is to have total staff commitment

• adopt good life style of management
• meet expectation of the team
• don't over emphasised on cultural sensitivity

The sixth challenge is to ensure the corporate culture and management style of team's executive is not reflected in the final analysis.

The seventh challenge is to maintain the 'chemistry' between team members

• avoid conspiracy of silence and organisational politics

TEAM MANAGEMENT

IT IS NOT:

A SET OF THEORIES STRUNG TOGETHER

FOR MOANING AND GROANING

IT'S ABOUT:

IDEAS, FACTS AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITIES PUT TOGETHER INTO PRACTICE FOR POSITIVE RESULTS

WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE COMON OBJECTIVES

MATCH AND MOULD THEIR SKILLS; DISCUS, DEBATE ADN DELIBERATE

SHARING OF EXPERIENCES

One cannot be a better boss until you first learn how to be a better person.  Remember, good answers don't last forever, but strategic thinking does.  You'll travel the distance when you have a good and understanding team

SHARED FROM ARTICLE BY:

FRANK GILMORE

TEAM SUCCESS IS NO GUARANTEE

ACCOUNTANT TODAY, JULY 2004

CREATING OPTIMISM, PROFESSIONALISM, AND DIFFERENCE IN MANAGEMENT

Creating optimism starts with motivation and positive frame of mind.  Motivation is the art of making people feel good, important and talented.

Steps:

1. take one day at a time and make it your best day
2. look for interesting and likeable attributes in people
3. make friends
4. accept people for what they are; don't try to change them
5. bring happiness and joy in work
6. don't give up on yourself
7. be positive
8. acquire emotional wisdom

Getting a degree does not make one professional overnight.  Professional is a long process of experience, expertise and above all a sense of ethic which enhances one's image as well.

tips

avoid malpractice, office politics and the lot

integrity

constantly upgrade one's skills and attitude

Time and tide waits for no man and opportunities, when you have a strategy, you can make a difference.  Even if the future seems full of uncertain challenges, muster up your belief in yourself.  You still have the opportunity to make the difference and be happy.  Wherever you are, you are in a position to make the difference.

SHARED FROM ARTICLE BY:

ARTHUR P. GRIMSHAW

CREATING OPTIMISM, PROFESSIONALISM AND DIFFERENCE IN MANAGEMENT

ACCOUNTANT TODAY, JULY 2004

LEADERS: PUT OTHERS FIRST

The best leaders are those who desire to serve others, not themselves.  A true serving leaders:

1. Puts others ahead of his own agenda
2. Has the confidence to serve
3. Initiate service to others
4. Does not clamour for position
5. Serves out of pure love

We have to love our people more than your position:

• stop lording over people more than our position
• stop role-playing for advancement, and start risking for the benefit of others
• stop seeking own way and start serving others

Tips to improve

Perform small acts of kindness

Learn to tread slowly

Make a point to connect with as many people as possible

Move into action

SHARED FROM ARTICLE BY:

GENEVIEVE WORDSWORTH

TO GET A HEAD, PUT OTHERS FIRST

ACCOUNTANTS TODAY, MAY 2004

THE MANAGEMENT JOURNEY

Management means different things to different people at different intervals of time.  The main function of any business manager is to create the right atmosphere for a supportive environment.

There is no specific limit to the acquisition of knowledge and experience.  Wisdom only follows thereafter.  Change in itself, is no guarantee of efficiency.  Thus, corporate changes should only be made in a sensible and timely manner.  Strategies without core competencies are like change without progress.

The ability to recognise 'holes' in your knowledge, and find ways to 'plug' them, will propel your business.  Otherwise, it's just as a jack-of-all-trades.  Making decisions when lacking understanding or familiarity with the issues can lead to disastrous results.

Self-confidence is a prerequisite for building a business.  But too much confidence may cause straying far.  It may also cause acceptance of limitations without attempting to patch up knowledge gaps.  Tapping on employees' expertise is one way of plugging the knowledge gaps.

Every company formulates its own management.  In certain bureaucracies, nothing is negotiable.  Create an open culture that facilitates the free exchange of ideas.  It's important that executives are not brain-dead after years of bureaucratic pressure and autocratic rules.

The ability to change for the better requires the right frame of mind and strong will-power.  Be the survivor who keeps his mouth shut, ears and eyes wide open, and develop a mind full of strategies.  Change and flexibility are vital attributes.  Significant change can only be implemented with commensurating corporate culture.

The key elements in management are decision-making, vision, strategy and time-management.  Learn how to formulate a Business Plan, devise vision and mission statements, and other strategies.  Understand the corporate culture, policies, objectives, management styles and apply more of common sense.

An idiot can make a simple task look complicated...., but it takes an expert to make a complex job look so simple.  Be positive, develop political savvy as a protection, do smart work and maintain a healthy measure of emotional intelligence.

Remember, the state of mind will have a ripple effect on the subordinates.  Put into practice the best techniques.

SHARED FROM ARTICLE BY P. GRIMSHAW

ACCOUNTANTS TODAY

BETTERLIFE, SEPTEMBER 2015

POSITIVE ATTITUDE AT WORK

Employees have different attitudes at their work place, i.e.

1. Quite slow at delivering, taking a laid back approach to their work
2. Super efficient, high response time
3. Those in the middle

There are also different personalities.  Some people can be abrasive and argumentative, while others have a friendlier and nicer way to approach issues at the workplace.  Some gossip or complain about their work colleagues behind their backs, while others just focus on their own work and deliveries.

WAYS TO EMULATE POSITIVE WORK ATTITUDE

Treat colleagues with respect; don't complain about them behind their backs

Report problems encountered quickly and professionally with an analysis

Identify negative thoughts and behaviours

Get out of the comfort zone

Don't be argumentative without good reasons

Backed arguments by tangible evidence

Let the team know if you are not in top form

Having positive attitude will set us on a positive path to success.  The right mix of know-how and soft-skills can contribute to a happier existence, and greater success in the workplace.

SHARED FROM ARTICLE BY:

SHEILA STANLEY

WRITER, TV PRODUCER AND PR/MEDIA CONSULTANT

STAR METRO, FRIDAY 8, MARCH 2016