Leadership rounding is the practice of leaders, whether that be executives, directors, managers, supervisors or team leaders walking around to their team members (staff) for the purposes of engaging with them and customers. (Marshal 2012)
For managers to make good, informed decisions, leaders need to know what is happening on the front lines of their business and the best way to gather actionable information is to observe directly and hear first-hand from staff (Marshall 2012)
There are proven documented reports and studies demonstrating that Leadership Rounding is successful. So much so that it can be seen in the history books, with examples such as by Alexander the Great as he was famous for riding his horse among his ranks of soldiers before combat, calling out individuals by name and exalting their bravery in prior battles. He connected with individuals and inspired his army as a whole when he rode into battle with them through. Further examples are Tom Peters where he used the term "Management By Walking Around" in the late 1970s and the Japanese know it as taking the "Gemba Walk," and Quint Studer is famous for his "Rounding for Outcomes." No matter what it is called though, the same core principles of hospital rounding remain steadfast. (J. Stephen Lindsey, FACHE, Principal, Ivy Ventures, LLC, and, Brett Corkran 2012).
There are many documented benefits of Leadership Rounding, some include:
Illustration of Commitment by the leader to staff.
It allows leaders
Management differs today than it did in the past. In the past, managers were considered “bosses” and their job mostly consisted of giving employees orders, monitoring performance and reprimanding unproductive behavior and misconduct. Many managers still manage employees in such fashion; however, some managers now tend to be more proactive and have changed managerial functions for the betterment of company operations and performance to accomplish organizational goals. Effective management for company success now entails guiding, training, supporting, motivating and coaching employees verses just demanding what
leader. The following definition has been chosen as it reflects the overall stance of the inquiry:
Some points of good practice with communication are listening to the staff as they might
Communicating information to employees is vital in the workplace if one wants to successful incorporate implementation at work. “Moreover, communication is the key to establishing an open environment where people can trust their management staff (Palmer Group, 2014).”
Let´s focus on communication, specifically listening. , As employees each of you have a leadership role based on your positions. In these positions you are required to take instructions, present guidance, make decisions, and implement policy. If you cannot listen effectively, you will miss critical instructions, mislead guidance, make less informed decisions, and hopefully never implement the wrong policies.
This method allows for employees to share in the decision making process. This allows for their voice to be hear, learn from others, and begin making managerial team decisions.
vision, and who can interpret the situation and direct the staff in challenging situations without a
"Management manages by making decisions and by seeing that those decisions are implemented." - Harold S. Geneen
Communicate: Communications laterally, up and down is essential to ensure we are operating as a team in the operational and strategic environment. Gaps in communication create chaos. Pro-active communications create an environment of transparency and a foundation of trust. I need the good news along with the bad news to have a holistic view to make effective decisions. Your honest approach to
This understanding is significant because leaders can focus their energy on these elements to help motivate staff to move forward in a positive direction. Staff members
Management differs today than it did in the past. In the past, managers were considered “bosses” and their job mostly consisted of giving employees orders, monitoring performance and reprimanding unproductive behavior and misconduct. Many managers still manage employees in such fashion; however, some managers now tend to be more proactive and have changed managerial functions for the betterment of company operations and performance to accomplish organizational goals. Effective management for company success now entails guiding, training, supporting, motivating and coaching employees verses
“Management is active, not theoretical. It is about changing behaviour and making things happen. It is about developing people, working with them, effort to achieve objective and goals.”(L.Mullins, 2010. P, 425)
Over the past hundred years management has continuously been evolving. There have been a wide range of approaches in how to deal with management or better yet how to improve management functions in our ever changing environment. From as early as 1100 B.C managers have been struggling with the same issues and problems that manager's face today. Modern managers use many of the practices, principles, and techniques developed from earlier concepts and experiences.
In today’s ever changing economy, society’s idea of management is becoming increasingly more difficult to sustain with the continuous demands of the position. A successful manager must have a certain level of expertise and problem solving techniques to carry out the daily tasks required. Over the years, there have been various ideas on what management is, such as planning, organizing, leading and controlling.
In today’s competitive landscape, organizations must utilize every resource to its fullest in order to achieve profitability. Peter F. Drucker, who is known as “the founding father of the discipline of management”, informs us that employees are assets, which should be treated as a company’s most valuable resource. The key players involved in utilizing this valuable resource are the managers of a company. Managers have a vital role in a company and the effort they put forth into their tasks and responsibilities will directly affect the success of a company. In Drucker’s book Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices (Revised Edition), he explains the role of a company’s management team and the secrets to becoming a great manager.