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[00:04.30]13
[00:06.90]No matter what kind of business situation I'm in,
[00:09.42]it's always important to know exactly who the individual is I'm communicating with.
[00:15.32]The worst mistake you can make is to fail to find out what drives them,
[00:18.98]money, status or whatever.
[00:21.04]Once you've worked that out,
[00:22.54]you'll be able to ensure you communicate what's in it for them personally.
[00:26.69]This should essentially govern the way you respond to people,
[00:30.24] enabling you to stay in control of the situation and achieve the desired outcome.
[00:40.66]14
[00:43.85]I've learnt some valuable management lessons over the years,
[00:47.50]not least in how to avoid the failure of a project.
[00:51.12]No matter what your position is,
[00:52.87]you always have to be prepared for opposition.
[00:55.79]And it's important to anticipate this
[00:58.46]by getting as many colleagues as possible on your side,
[01:01.61]so that if, in discussions, someone objects to your plans, you, and a number of others,
[01:07.50]are able to give an immediate response
[01:09.70]in order to silence your opponent.
[01:17.14]15
[01:20.50]When I first started running my own business
[01:23.42]I made some dreadful mistakes in the way I handled staff.
[01:27.47]The worst thing you can do is stick to one strategy
[01:31.13]and apply it to every situation.
[01:33.54]Sometimes you just need to show 'em who's boss.
[01:37.34]Other times some gentle persuasion is more effective,
[01:41.05]in my opinion, anyway.
[01:43.05]I'm sure I was often criticised for my management style,
[01:47.00]not that I let it bother me, though.
[01:54.44]16
[01:57.78]I've found if you want to stay in charge of a situation,
[02:01.56]the worst mistake you can make is not keeping people up to speed with what you're doing at every single stage of the process.
[02:09.49]Of course, that doesn't mean you need to be seeking universal agreement or approval for your actions and opinions.
[02:17.53]Some people will always be critical.
[02:20.15]But at least adopting this approach will encourage an atmosphere in which everyone feels included.
[02:31.54]17
[02:34.81]There are always going to be things in a company people don't like,
[02:38.13]and if you've created an atmosphere in which they're encouraged to contribute ideas freely,
[02:43.06]you have to learn to deal with complaints.
[02:45.80]Revealing that you are, for example, upset by their comments is a crucial error.
[02:50.27]You will have shown a weakness in your character that others may try to exploit,
[02:54.34]and may lead to a general lack of support for you.