The term organization means that there is cooperation between a number of people and that cooperation is intended to achieve predetermined and agreed goals. Collaboration also very often means forming teams. Just think of sales teams, project teams and also maintenance teams that work at a car company. These teams are often put together on the basis of random selection and over time the collaboration is no longer optimal. This can cause serious problems for the organization. Sales will be disappointing, projects will not be handled properly and there will be complaints about the quality of car maintenance. Action is therefore required.
Organizational problems
Everyone has probably experienced it at some point: at some point, external experts are observed who, apparently, are hired to solve all kinds of organizational problems. Of course, problems may have been identified, but it is not always a good idea to bring in external expertise for this. Sometimes, even more often than one might think, problems can be solved with simple means and the existing expertise (their own HRM department) can be used to solve this problem.
In any organization where several people are active, differences in character, work ethics, attitude and knowledge and skills must be taken into account. These differences are not the cause of the problems in the workplace (if they exist at all). What is often lacking is (the ability to) manage the workplace mix and the way in which management responds to it.
Management tools
Nowadays management can provide itself with all kinds of tools to manage and manage the organization. To name a few: Six Sigma, Total Quality Management, the INK model, ISO certifications and so on. All excellent tools for a specific purpose. When choosing one of these methods, one must realize that not everything simply fits and that the choice must therefore be made very carefully. Otherwise there is a risk that the wrong tool has been chosen to solve the problem. When making a choice, the available support should be taken into account. Little support for a project almost always means that the project will fail.
Personality tests
These tests, if applied correctly, can certainly be considered management tools. There are also a number of these, but the 360 degree feedback and the so-called color method are more often featured. What do we mean by properly applied ? In the 360 degree feedback, for example, the intention is also to bring the actions and performance of managers into discussion. It may be discussed that an employee should be managed in a different way to generate maximum effectiveness.
The color methodology, based on the ideas of the Swiss Carl Jung, uses a color coding to indicate how someone is put together. An example:
Symbolic Meaning Color Green
Meaning Color Green Positive
- Reacting instinctively
- sensitive, but do not dare to show this
- modest
- need for certainty
- withdrawing in the face of difficulties
- conservative
- long for the past
- slow pace of life
- motherly nurturing
- strong family bond
Meaning Color Green Negative
- Let yourself be guided by instincts
- impressionable
- hypersensitive
- close in case of minor injury
- feelings of dependence
- fleeing in an idealized past for the harsh reality
- slow
- worrying
- (too) strong maternal bond or bond to the family
Application
What can or should you do with this as a manager or supervisor? Let’s first mention a number of things you should not do with it. It is not the intention to use the results of these types of tests in performance reviews. These types of conversations are about discussing the way someone functions and making agreements to improve it in the future (if applicable). It is also not the intention to use this for recruitment and selection purposes.
When it is learned that the test of a (random) person in the organization or in a department produces the above-mentioned result, a manager can adapt his or her management style to and for that person. This creates a win-win situation for both. Controlling becomes easier and being controlled becomes a lot more pleasant. In addition, the person’s strengths can be focused on so that the less strong sides can no longer come to the surface. The negative aspects become stronger when they are constantly emphasized. Someone who leads in a very directive manner will discover that this green person will clam up and show escape behavior.