About good management practices
Do you know this guy? Then spend a while to listen to him 🙂
Adam Savage, once a Mythbusters host, talks about his experience working at Industrial Light & Magic.
The basic management principles are universal – whether in film or manufacturing, one of the key questions is how to ensure efficiency and quality of work. The essence of the matter is always the same – providing support and peace of mind ‘down the line’. That’s what the first 2.5 minutes are about. The next 3 are about the value of creating teams that work well together, solve problems, and adapt to various situations.
So what was so special about Industrial Light & Magic?
- lack of ‘punching down’ on subordinates by the management, i.e. shouting, transferring stress and tension related to e.g. the an approaching deadline,
- proactively providing help for a person who is not making it for the deadline,
- which is often called ‘umbrella management’, meaning that as a boss you function as an ‘umbrella’ for your subordinates so that they can work in peace and it’s your role to provide them with the conditions and resources to deliver on time – adding more stress just never helps,
- independence of individuals in the execution of tasks and not adding work to others, including managers, but also
- the culture of using help if it is needed, thanks to which
- teams were formed that were great at solving problems and adapting to challenges and emerging problems, and were
- able to propose solutions instead of multiplying problems.
It’s all seemingly simple, but you have to consciously develop it to make it work efficiently.
Something like in the picture below…
If you’re not sure how and would like to make it happen in your company (and let me give you a hint: it’s harder from the inside), we’ll be happy to help – just drop me a note or call me. We implement these and other principles in nearly any process practically and effectively.