First of all, what is management? The dictionary defines management as “the act or art of managing: the conducting or supervising of something (as a business).”. Sounds about right. But then, Attila the Hun was a manager of sorts. Clearly, there is a big difference between being a manager and being a “good” manager who has earned the respect of the people.

It is interesting that the formal definition of management includes the word “art”, because in some respects, it is an art as much as a science. Just about anyone can learn the basic mechanics of becoming a manager. However, there is a certain amount of mystery in defining that extra dimension of skills and traits that elevates certain people to a status of “good” manager. What is it?

Part of it is charisma. Charisma is a sort of magical quality of magnetic charm or appeal that makes people want to follow the person who has it. Strong interpersonal skills are certainly critical to the creation of charisma, but are by no means the only ingredient. The perception of charisma must be earned through accomplishment.

A strong leader gains the respect of his/her people by actions. Principal among those actions is the involvement of the organization in decision making. How many times have you heard someone say, “If I was running the show, I sure wouldn’t do it that way!”? It is important that the manager has the mechanisms in place that allow ideas to bubble up from all corners of the organization. No matter how smart we think we are as managers, we certainly don’t know everything. Many of the very best ideas come from the people on the front line of the day to day business. We have to have a way for people to express those ideas and get rewarded for their contributions if the idea pans out. Delegating many of the day to day tactical decisions in no way undermines the manager’s authority or responsibility for the bigger picture. Remember this: If people have enthusiastic ownership of an idea, their idea, they WILL make it work, even if it is a BAD idea. If not, they can torpedo even a GOOD idea.

Recognizing people for their contributions is one of the surest ways to secure employee loyalty and to earn the perception that the manager is smart enough to understand that he/she doesn’t know everything. Recognition and rewards are not necessarily monetary. In some cases, simple public recognition is all that is required. Recognition nurtures the ego and differientiates people from their peers. Recognition just makes a person feel good and stimulates the desire to have it happen again.

If a manager utilizes the people to help develop the organization’s mission statement, then the people will follow. Having a solid and workable mission statement is critical to organizational success. It can serve as the basis for decision making. If you bounce an idea off the mission statement and it sticks, you might do it. Otherwise, forget it. For example, if you are in the business of developing the worlds best diagnostic software, you are not going to open a resturant to raise extra cash. That would be way outside the mission statement. See the point? All tactical decisions should fit within the mission statement.

Next, a “good” manager is a strategic thinker. The manager should have at least a five to ten year view of the future. Where does the organization want to be in five years and tactically, what needs to be done today, tomorrow, next week or next month to get there? Nothing can undermine a manager faster than having the organization perceive that the manager has no idea of direction.

Then, there is integrity. A manager has to be seen by his superiors and his employees as being honest and forthright and doesn’t play silly political games. No one likes a sleazy character that cannot be trusted, especially if that person is in charge of the careers of people. Would you?

The “good” manager fights for his/her people and they know it. Everyone knows that outstanding performers are amply rewarded and substandard performers are penalized or eliminated. People know that the decisions made by the manager well thought out and are in the best interest of the organization. An employee may not like the fact that the manager had to cut their pet project out of the budget. But if the employee is in tune with the organization, he/she will understand why it had to be done.

A “good” manager is highly selective when building the “culture” the organization. People hired should “fit” the collective personality of the organization. Loners and hotheads should not be merged into an organization of people who genuinely like each other and work well together. Think about the best sports teams. The very best ones are those where the members are more like family than team mates.

Finally, the “good” manager will spend the extra time to collect the information necessary to show how valuable the organization is to the company. This can take any number of forms such as cost savings, cost avoidance, improved process, improved productivity, and so on. Then the manager makes sure everyone knows about it, from top to bottom. It is vital that the people feel they are important and are making a contribution to the overall success of the company.

There is no magic formula for becoming a “good” manager and the points mentioned above are certainly not an exhaustive list. Some of it is instinct, but it mostly stems from the gut-level understanding that the most important thing in an organization is its people. Treat people with respect and dignity and you will get that back in spades.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_45876_36.html
About the Author: http://www.jamminjobs.com

Why take the feature off? Sony has said that “the new PS3 system will focus on delivering games and other entertainment content, and users will not be able to install other operating systems…” Well, the answer’s pretty simple, and not much beyond that.

Features:
• Cleans a 30′ x 30′ (900 square feet) room once per hour
• Captures and destroys bacteria, mold, viruses and fungi
• Filters 95% of particles as minute as 0.1 microns, or one thousand times smaller than a single human hair
• No expensive HEPA filters to replace
• Ionizer emits negative ions which help to freshen stale air
• Status indicator turns red when it’s time to clean the filter
• Uses less energy than a 25 watt bulb on Silence setting
• 3-Speed settings with Silence Technology®
• Never clogs
• 5 stage purification process
• Uses a series of alternately charged collection plates to attract and lock in dirt particles like a powerful magnet

Includes:
• 1 x XL Pro air purifier (16 1/4″ x 10 1/2″ x 5 1/2″)

Care Instructions:
Clean with regular soap and water on the outside. Electronic filter can be sprayed with air cell cleaner, let sit for several minutes and rinse well. Dry completely before reinstalling.

Warranty Information:
3 year warranty. Electronic filter has a 12 year warranty

http://www.theshoppingchannel.com/product/more+from/oreck+xl+air+cleaner+503877.do?N=101097

A few of the more recent complaints …

Libbye of Durham, NC October 8, 2009

When a deer hit my car in December 2008, my Mazda3 sustained extensive damage to the left side and front end. Progressive suggested that I use one of their “preferred” body shops but failed to disclose, which they are supposed to by law, that they have a financial interest in doing so. (I found out later that they were supposed to disclose that.)

They towed my car to a body shop that did shoddy repairs and also listed repairs that they didn’t even do. I had a post-repair insector examine my car, and he found several problems. So I called my Progressive rep, and he blamed it on the body-shop manager, who blamed it on his “guys.” So they attempted to fix my car again.

I took the car to the inspector again, and he found more problems. I asked to have my car taken to a different shop, so they took it to a local Mazda dealership. They found a lot of problems–for example, the previous body shop had used a non-OEM hood that wasn’t even from a Mazda vehicle, so it didn’t fit right. They did a better job, but by this time the repairs reached 75% of the value of my car, the threshold at which they should have declared my car a “total loss.”

To keep from reaching that threshold, they undervalued the repairs and overvalued my car. Just a month earlier, I had decided to sell the car to get out of the payments. Carmax had offered me 8,500, and the very dealership where I got the third round of repairs done offered me 9,500. Progressive said my car was worth 13,700! They did this to avoid declaring my car a total loss.

Also, they counted only the original round of repairs toward the repair cost–they said the supplemental repairs didn’t count toward the 75% threshold, which is ridiculous because the first round of repairs was incomplete and unsafe. They even tried to straighten out a damaged upper frame rail instead of replacing it, which is what they’re supposed to do to restore the car to its pre-accident condition.

What happened next is unfortunate. I was going to take the car back to my inspector a third time when I lost my job. So I really needed to sell the car then, to get out of the payments. That rendered me unable to pursue the matter further. But according to my inspector, this happens every day, with every insurance company. In fact, 99% of the vehicles he has inspected had unsafe repairs to them. In only four years in business in a small town called Salisbury, North Carolina, he has gotten 1.5 million worth of vehicles bought back or totaled by the insurance company. That is what should have happened to mine.

I had consulted a lawyer about my case, and he wanted to review a synopsis, but then I lost my job and sold the car. Also, my car obviously suffered diminished value, but Progressive told me that they do not honor diminished value — the concept that your car is worth less after an accident, even if it is repaired properly. I ended up with a damaged car that was never fixed properly and sold the car for much less than I could have sold it for if they had fixed it correctly. They should have totaled it or bought it back. But I ran out of time.

Ron of Naples, FL October 5, 2009

I applied for auto insurance in person asking for a better rate than I was getting with another company (Approxemitley 750.00/year). I was given a quote around 360.00. I told Kim that I would call her back when got home and checked on line for other quotes. I checked with Geico and got a quote of 202.00/6 months. Wanting to get the lesser of the two I went with Kim’s quote. I called her back and gave her my debit card number thus concluding our transaction. After getting an e-mail back showing the policy number and brief policy explanations I noticed the quote was for 6 months not 12. I immediately called back and cancelled the policy. This was on 9-22-09. Kim confirmed the policy would be cancelled as of that date and a check would be sent to me for the pre-paid amount(I paid the whole premium). This did not make me very happy because they had deducted the amount directly from my account not 15 minutes earlier. I was obviously stuck with the “It’s Progressives policy to issue checks” explanation. It is now 10-5-09 one day short of two weeks and I have not received a check. I called Kim and was told Progressive would send my check out 10-7-09 (2 weeks and a day since the original transaction). In spite of the fact that I feel I was deceived from beginning I would to know if there is a time frame for refunds as set up by the Florida Insurance commission and if so, how long? As for any future business dealings with either one of busineses I will certainley steere and suggest any one reading this do the same.

Julio of Union City, NJ October 4, 2009

I insured my vehicle with Progressive a couple of Month ago. This company now icreased my polizy for a reason that I do not understand, I had no accident, my record is clean.

Lisa of Yermo, CA October 2, 2009

I changed my home owners ins. from Allstate to Progressive because the premiums were lower. 729.00 per annum. Then when renewal time came, it went to 1057.00 a yr. I called Progressive and you say that “you have a program to automatically calculate the replacement cost to rebuild my home”. According to this program, replacement used to cost 169,000, now, it would cost 219,000.

I asked for an adjustment and they said they wouldn’t adjust the rate. I disagree that it would cost 219,000 to rebuild. The cost of labor and material have gone down. And, my house is only 1092 SF. Insurance companies arrogantly do whatever they want to and we have no control over it. This is wrong and I want it investigated. My house payment has gone up, making it difficult for me to make the payment. I am depressed and I feel like I have no control over my finances because of this company.

Susan of Paso Robles, CA October 2, 2009

My car struck a deer. The guy came out to look at it and I was called a liar and that there was no evidence of my car striking a deer. Now they are not responding to my twice daily calls and I even left messages with management and nothing. How can they know what really happened? I don’t like being called a liar and am very frustrated with Progressive. DON’T BUY INSURANCE WITH THIS COMPANY. HORRIBLE PEOPLE AND VERY CONDESCENDING.

Daniel of Phoenix, AZ September 22, 2009

I recently added a new car to my insurance policy. The changes to my policy were made by telephone. During the call I asked Progressive if my policy would cover other drivers in the rare event that they were to opperate my vehicle. I was told that they would be covered as long as they didn’t live with me. I have two roommates that live in my household. Since this conversation with Progressive, they have sent me a letter threatening to cancel my insurance policy if I don’t provide them with the names of everyone I live with, as well as their DOB, their drivers license #, relationship to me, and name of their own personal insurance co. Progressive’s policy requires that I add everyone in my household to my policy, which will increase my monthly rate. Can they really cancel my insurrance because my roommates don’t want me to share their personal information? I don’t blame them! My roommates don’t even drive my car – they have their own cars!

Alida of Banning, CA September 19, 2009

Fourth of July weekend, 2009 I was at a private gated membership campground for 10 or so days. I met some wonderful folks who had some horses and we became friends. We were parked up on the “ridge” where you park when you have horses with you. It was VERY windy, in Julian, CA up there. I went to their ranch in Yuma, Az with the horses and left the Fleetwood American Dream Motorhome parked, across from the new friens’s ADULT children. I came back the next day and the motorhome had a broken windshield. The awning was damaged. The door got caught in the strong wind when I opened it. I moved the motorhome to lower spot,as I didn’t have the horses with me any longer. I called the park security over. They said there were unsupervised kids roaming on the Holiday Weekend. They also said there had been HIGH winds the entire time I was gone.

I called Progressive to see about an adjuster coming out to replace the passenger half of the windshield. Very nice. No problem. Except they never came. I cut vacation short and went to stay at relatives home til it was reparied. Progressive would NOT repair it. Said they were checking out my policy to see if it “afforded coverage”. I paid 1300.00 to have half a windshield replaced. It has been OVER THREE months and I spoke with the supervisor. Called the adjuster numerous times to come out. ASKED for a copy of my policy SIX times via email and on phone, only to NEVER receive it. First Supervisor said it was a collision claim, not comp. I said, “SO?” I’m covered either way. She went on to say it would cause “points” against my driving record. That SOMEONE had a spare set of keys to my bus when I was in YUMA (Who the cat???PLUS I had ONLY set of keys WITH me).

After I told her I had it parked there…did NOT drive it to YUMA but drove in truck to Yuma..then she said I was lying. That it was broken while driving the motorhome. NOW, three months later they sent a letter stating they are not paying because the windshield damage was a result of “wear and tear”. I have pics from THAT campsite where the windshield shows. NO crack or chip. Wear and Tear? I just bought it in Nov 2008. They are RUDE, Proposterous and just don’t want to pay ANY claim whatsoever.

sharnise of arlington, TX September 16, 2009

my car was stolen 8/13 from my residence all parties were notified police, insurance, car co. my car was recovered 8/15 and was taken to impound. I paid to get my car out however wouldnt start. i contacted my insurance in which they investigated and come to conclusion my iol cap was not on tight causing oil to leak inside of vehicle which is not true as my car was working fine until theft occurred. i even just repaired my vehicle 2 weeks prior as well as oil change. there was no oil visible in my parking spot or anywhere. my insurance is not wanting to pay for the damages but advised will cover body damage as well as repair crack in oil pan which was not there before my car was stolen.

Brenda of Topeka, KS September 15, 2009

Our son,was injured in a car accident Sept. 29, 2008 when a 16 year old girl with a restricted drivers liscense pulled out of a parking lot onto a 4 lane road directly into oncoming traffic to make an illegal left hand turn. She pulled directly into our sons path of travel, he only had a second to react, there were only a couple of feet of skid marks, he literally had no time to react. The front of his refurbished 1989 Honda Accord slammed into the side of her car, the police said it was the same as him being in a head on collision. The only thing that saved him was his seatbelt. His car hit so hard witnesses said the backend came up into the air, and landed in the other lane. His window was down on the driver side so when this happened even with a seat belt on his upper body and head snapped out of the window and back in. He was taken to the hospital and suffered bruising around his heart, bruised lungs, severe whiplash, injured shoulder, back injury and bruised ribs. He has gone thru physical therapy, missed work, had many xrays, CT’s, MRI’s and was on prescription medications that a Neurologist had to prescribe because he suffered from such severe headaches for 6 months after the accident. We are being devowered by medical bills that our insurance company has not completely covered that we are trying to make payments on. We were not given hardly anything for his car that was totalled so had to find what we could to replace our sons car so that he could get to school and work. This car has had many repairs we have had to pay for on top of all the medical bills we are just drowning financially!

Our son was finally released from the doctors on August 25th 2009, we IMMEDIATELY contacted the Progressive agent/supervisor like we had been instructed to do. And 2 weeks later we have yet to here back, and I email or call daily and leave messages. This is going to be a large settlement so they are avoiding us. We called an attorney that our Insurance agent recommended, told him the situation and he is giving us his services free of charge, as soon as I told him who the insurance company was, he laughed and the said he wasnt surprised and it wasnt the first time he had heard this complaint. So I guess to court we will go, hopefully I can hold off the bill collectors a little longer. If you have had an accident with someone that has Progressive, DO NOT WAIT, GET AN ATTORNEY!!!

Maureen of Homosassa, FL September 8, 2009

Nov. 2007 My Husband and I were Leaving or house and a woman turned into the street we were on and was coming straight at us. My husband veered as much as possible before she hit us. The impact was on the corner of the drivers front. My husband was fine, but unfortunately I am not. My neck was whiplashed front, right and back. I now have four buldging disk and one herniated disk in my neck. Both of us had our seat belts on. I had previously seen a Ciropractor for a neck and back injury a year prior and had not seen him for a year when this accident occured because my neck had been fine.

However because of this accident it is no longer fine and surgery is the only anwser. The woman who hit us lied and was not insured. We carry 150,000. of uninsured motorist. I have been seeing my Chiroprator since, until I can get the surgery. They denied Chiropratic care last November 2008. I have been paying out of pocket. I will not get the surgery until they pay for it. I do not want to be one of those people who end up filing backruptcy because an insurance company wont pay.

Progressive has been horrible through out this. The surgery will cost 45,000. per disk. Their first offer to settle was 5,500. their second was 6,500. which is remaining balance of my medical with them. They have been sent four letters from different doctors explaining that my neck needs surgery. The person we are dealing with from Progressive says she has nothing stating I need surgery?

They have tried to say I have a lengthy history of neck problems, I went to a Chiro for a year in 2005, never before and had not seen him for a year when this happened! They just do not want to pay! I could maybe understand if it was the other guys insurance but this is my insurance which I have paid for!

Progressive has also raised my rate 500. for 6 mo and no one else has had an increase. They are horrible people. Lesson to learn, just because they may be cheaper, it does not matter if they do not take care of you! I have changed my car insurance to another company. A person should not have hire an Attorney to sue their own insurance company for coverage you have paid for.

37VIP