“The One Minute Manager” is a well-regarded management book written by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson. Published in 1982, the book promotes a quick and efficient form of management that revolves around three key techniques, each supposedly taking just one minute to implement. The methods are designed to be simple but effective, and they have become highly influential in the field of business management.
Below is a brief introduction to the book’s key concepts:
- One Minute Goals: The authors advocate setting clear goals that can be reviewed in one minute. Employees should understand what is expected of them and what successful completion looks like.
- One Minute Praisings: This involves offering genuine praise to employees when they do something right. The idea is to catch people doing something well and immediately acknowledge it.
- One Minute Reprimands: If an employee does something wrong, the authors recommend managers quickly correct them. This should be done in a constructive manner, focusing on the behavior, not the person.
These are the core concepts, and the book expands on them using a narrative story to demonstrate their application and effectiveness in a business setting.
Chapter By Chapter Summary
- Chapter 1: A One Minute Manager
- The story begins with a young man searching for an effective manager and stumbling upon the One Minute Manager. The One Minute Manager has a unique style, delegating responsibility for tasks and ensuring employees can handle them.
- Chapter 2: One Minute Goals
- The One Minute Manager introduces the concept of One Minute Goals. The idea is to make sure an employee knows what they are responsible for and what a good job looks like. The goals are written down and should take no more than a minute to read.
- Chapter 3: One Minute Praisings
- The Manager explains the next technique: One Minute Praisings. The Manager catches employees doing something right and immediately praises them. The praise is specific, detailing what they did right and how it helps the organization. The idea is to encourage the employee to do more of the same.
- Chapter 4: One Minute Reprimands
- The third technique is introduced: One Minute Reprimands. When an employee does something wrong, they receive immediate feedback. The feedback is specific to the behavior, not the person. The Manager makes it clear that they think well of the employee but not of their performance in this situation.
- Chapter 5: The New One Minute Manager
- The young man reflects on what he has learned and realizes the value of the One Minute Manager’s methods. He sees how efficient and effective they are.
- Chapter 6: Putting the One Minute Manager to Work
- The young man decides to put these methods into practice and becomes a One Minute Manager himself. He finds success in his work and becomes more productive and satisfied.
The three primary concepts of “The One Minute Manager.”
1. One Minute Goals
- Understanding: The idea here is to ensure that both the manager and the employee understand and agree on what needs to be accomplished. Goals should be clearly defined, highly achievable, and easy to measure.
- Documentation: These goals should be brief enough to fit on a single sheet of paper. The brevity forces a focus on what’s truly important and provides a quick, easy way to remind oneself of the goal.
- Review: Regular review of these goals is necessary. The time needed for review should not exceed one minute.
2. One Minute Praisings
- Immediate: Praise should be given as soon as an employee does something right. Immediate reinforcement strengthens the connection between the behavior and the praise, which encourages repetition of the behavior.
- Specific: When offering praise, it’s important to be specific about what the employee did correctly. This clarifies what actions the manager values and wants to see repeated.
- Personal: The praise should also include how the manager feels about the employee’s achievement and its value for the team or company.
3. One Minute Reprimands
- Immediate: Much like praise, reprimands should be delivered as soon as a problem is identified. This helps the employee connect the feedback to the specific behavior.
- Specific: The manager needs to be explicit about what the employee did wrong. Avoid personal criticism and focus on the behavior in question.
- Clear separation: After the reprimand, make it clear that it’s the behavior you dislike, not the person. End on a positive note to show that you still value the employee.
The principles above form the core of the One Minute Manager’s philosophy. These simple yet powerful techniques can help managers be more effective while spending less time on the minutiae of management.
Key concepts of the book “The One Minute Manager” In Table Form
| Concept | Definition | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| One Minute Goals | Goals that are clearly defined, easily measurable, and can be reviewed in one minute. | Begin with a discussion between manager and employee to determine and agree on the goal. Write down the goal, ensuring it is brief and to the point. Regularly review and adjust the goal as necessary. |
| One Minute Praisings | Immediate, specific praise delivered when an employee does something right. | Observe employee behavior closely. When you see them doing something right, immediately provide praise. Be specific about what they did well, how it helps the team or company, and how you feel about their achievement. |
| One Minute Reprimands | Immediate, specific feedback given when an employee makes a mistake. | Monitor employee behavior. When you see them do something wrong, promptly provide feedback. Be clear about what they did wrong, but separate the behavior from the person. Reinforce their value to the team after the reprimand. |
This table captures the essence of each technique and provides a quick reference for how to implement them.
Adapting the key concepts from “The One Minute Manager” to a health insurance brokerage with 100% remote workers would look something like this:
1. One Minute Goals
- Define clear, measurable goals for each remote worker. This could relate to sales targets, client satisfaction levels, policy renewal rates, etc.
- Write down these goals in a format that’s easily shared digitally – a shared document, an email, or a project management tool.
- Regularly review these goals in video calls. Use screen sharing to jointly review the written goals.
2. One Minute Praisings
- Actively monitor the performance of your remote workers, using the metrics defined in your One Minute Goals.
- When a worker meets or exceeds a goal, immediately send a personal message acknowledging their achievement. Be specific about what they did well and how it benefits the company.
- Consider a public recognition system, such as a shout-out during a team meeting, to highlight achievements and motivate the team.
3. One Minute Reprimands
- If an employee fails to meet a goal or makes a mistake, quickly provide specific, constructive feedback.
- Use private video calls for this feedback to make the conversation more personal and effective. Discuss the problem and potential solutions.
- Make sure the conversation ends on a positive note, emphasizing your faith in the worker’s abilities and their importance to the company.
In conclusion, while the methods of communication have to adapt to the remote setting, the core principles of One Minute Management can still be applied effectively. These techniques can help to maintain engagement, motivation, and productivity in a remote workforce.
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