The credo of the one-minute manager rests on the implementation of three ideas, namely: the need to establish clear-cut goals, the need to praise good performance, and the need to reprimand people when their performance fails to contribute to the attainment of commonly agreed goals.

Ken Blanchard identifies these three key elements (secrets) as:

1. One Minute Goal Setting
2. One Minute Praising
3. One Minute Reprimanding

The first 'secret' and the foundation for The One Minute Manager.

All good performance starts with clear goals. If we want to improve the performance of employees in any organisation, the simplest and easiest way would be to make sure they have clear goals.

In some organisations, when an employee is asked what it is they do, the description given is normally totally different from the description given by their boss. So how can you be an effective manager unless you and your team are sure of what they are being asked to perfrom? Answer - by setting clear goals that will eliminate any doubts!

Once you have agreed with each of your team members what needs to be done, make a record of each of their goals. Keep a copy for yourself and a copy for your team member.

The second secret ...

All managers want their team to enjoy their work and suceed within the organisation.

The One Minute Praising is about catching team members doing something right. You don't need to praise someone for very long for them to notice that you care.

Help your team reach their full potential by catching them doing something right.

1. Praise them immediately
2. Tell them what they did right and be specific.
3. Express how good you feel about what they did right.
4. Encourage them to do more of the same.

The third secret ...

This is used with those team members who have been doing a job for some time and have all the skills to do something right but they don't. The reprimand should not be long in duration and when it's over, it's over! It doesn't take long and you will find that the team member doesn't usually make the same mistake twice.

When you do see a team member doing something wrong:

1. Reprimand them immediately
2. Tell them what they did wrong and be specific.
3. Tell them how you feel about what they did wrong.
4. Stop for a few seconds of uncomfortable silence to let them feel how you feel.
5. Remind them how much you value them and how you think well of them but not of their performance in this situation.
6. Realise that when the reprimand is over, it's over.

Applied consistently, these three 'secrets' will help you to be an effective manager and coach at work. Share these secrets with your team, use them as needed and get your team to use them as well. You will all perform better as a result!

The One Minute Manager is just one of many subjects covered by our hugely popular Rapid Results® 90 minute training sessions. With over 24 topics to choose from, these lively and interactive sessions are packed with tips and ideas to really get your people switched on! Click here for more information on bite sized learning that sticks!

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