Managing by Task Specific Readiness

There are many leadership and management styles to choose from depending on your employee’s social style (driver, analytical, expressive & amiable), experience, skills, knowledge, stage of company, your motivational style, etc.

One key management approach (along with social style) that I use to determine how I will manage an individual is by that person’s “task specific readiness”. This means each person has tasks, roles or jobs they have done over and over and are very competent in that task. Therefore the management of this person for this task is simply ask them to do it, or let them know “what” you want them to do.

If an employee is new to a role, task or job, they will need coaching, direction and a more hands on style. They will need to learn from you not just the “what” but the “how”. When introducing a new task or responsibility, a more positive reinforcement and a nurturing coaching style may be necessary. The Task Specific Readiness Managerial Style constantly comes into play because we are always asking our people to do different tasks. Some they are competent in, some they are new to. This can be a new employee (low on task specific readiness because they don’t know your company, product, or processes), or a seasoned veteran that you are asking to take on a new challenge, role or task (also low in task specific readiness).

While the task specific readiness management style is needed in today’s changing and challenging business environment it is important to note that many leaders do this instinctively. But new managers or weak leaders need to consider this or risk their employee failing at the task, or worse having that employee who is high on the readiness scale feel they are being treated like a child.

The challenge in learning how to lead people is not only identify the social style of each of your employees and then flexing and mirroring your behavior to communicate your expectations successfully but to then adjust your management style based upon their task specific readiness. This takes time and practice until it becomes second nature.

What are some of your ideas and thoughts on this?