ACQUAINTING YOURSELF WITH THE UNIQUE PSYCHOLOGICAL MAKEUP OF EMPLOYEES MEANS KNOWING HOW MUCH OF A PERSON YOU CAN CHANGE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TALENT, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE, AND KNOWING WHICH OF THESE CAN BE TAUGHT AND WHICH CAN ONLY BE HIRED IN.

Managers who operate in the realm of excellence recognize that each individual has a different psychological makeup, that each person is motivated differently and has her unique style of thinking and relating to others. They capitalize on the differences and try to build on the strengths of their charges.

The manager assumes the role of a catalyst creating the right psychological and physical environment that inspires her people to employ their talents in the actualization of their organisation’s goals and customers’ needs.

The manager’s main concerns are to select an employee, define expectations, motivate and develop the person.

Acquainting yourself with the unique psychological makeup of your employees means knowing how much of a person you can change, the difference between talent, skills and knowledge, and knowing which of these can be taught and which can only be hired in. Awareness of these facts helps a manager to cast her employees in the right roles for great performance.

To maintain balance in the workplace, a manager sets accurate performance expectations, keeps her people off distractions and focuses them on daily performance, determines the parts of the job requiring strict conformity and standardization and the parts flexible to individual flair and originality.

A manager rightly ascertains when it is appropriate to help an individual get a promotion and when it is proper to encourage her to attend some training classes.

When managers have a say in selecting their people and when they are committed to the current success and future growth of their people, a strong bond develops between the manager and employee, and contributes to building a strong organization.