What does a manager actually manage?
Other than who he wants to speak to - or actually speaks to - and what he wants to talk about - or actually talks about, a manager manages what information he wants to take in, how he interprets it, and what perspective he forms out of it. As such, he manages the knowledge which flows through him.
In the context of running a business, or with a view to performing a certain role in the business, a manager manages the costs of his activities or, to some extent, those associated with the decisions he makes, in order to achieve certain results.
But he cannot possibly manage the result with certainty, which is subject to many other things beyond his control. He can only manage the action to take in response to a particular result and, to a large extent, the timing of his activities.
In other words, put simply, a manager manages three things: knowledge, cost and timing. Put together, he manages serendipity in the making, perpetually improving his chances of success which, after all, is down to luck.
But there is one more fundamental element which he needs to manage consciously and appropriately before he can possibly manage the other three things well, that is, his own attitude, particularly his attitude to learning.
Isn't a manager also supposed to manage people - human resources? I don't quite think so, although a manager has to make decisions which may affect the well-being of other people. A manager inspires, motivates and coaches people, who are individuals with their own minds and, to a large extent - particularly if they so choose - free will. So a manager doesn't really manage anybody else, but creates the right environment and opportunities for people to add value to the overall good of a task, or project, or a business and, in so doing, to themselves. Indeed, everybody manages his own action which, amongst many other things, let alone luck, makes up his own destiny.
Anything else - not traceable to knowledge, cost, timing or attitude - missing? Please inspire me.
In the context of running a business, or with a view to performing a certain role in the business, a manager manages the costs of his activities or, to some extent, those associated with the decisions he makes, in order to achieve certain results.
But he cannot possibly manage the result with certainty, which is subject to many other things beyond his control. He can only manage the action to take in response to a particular result and, to a large extent, the timing of his activities.
In other words, put simply, a manager manages three things: knowledge, cost and timing. Put together, he manages serendipity in the making, perpetually improving his chances of success which, after all, is down to luck.
But there is one more fundamental element which he needs to manage consciously and appropriately before he can possibly manage the other three things well, that is, his own attitude, particularly his attitude to learning.
Isn't a manager also supposed to manage people - human resources? I don't quite think so, although a manager has to make decisions which may affect the well-being of other people. A manager inspires, motivates and coaches people, who are individuals with their own minds and, to a large extent - particularly if they so choose - free will. So a manager doesn't really manage anybody else, but creates the right environment and opportunities for people to add value to the overall good of a task, or project, or a business and, in so doing, to themselves. Indeed, everybody manages his own action which, amongst many other things, let alone luck, makes up his own destiny.
Anything else - not traceable to knowledge, cost, timing or attitude - missing? Please inspire me.
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