The Five Minds of a Manager Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Five Minds of a Manager - Article Example One of the main focuses of the discussion in the article is based on the five managerial mindsets. Everything an effective manager does is sandwiched between action on the ground and reflection on the abstract. These two mindsets must be combined to in order for reflective thinking to meet practical doing. The five modules of the mindset program discussed in the article are: managing-self, managing organizations, managing context, managing relationships, and managing change. The first managerial mindset is managing self or the reflective mindset. These days managers need to desperately stop and think and to step back and reflect on their experiences. This type of mentality and thinking process can help managers gather ideas. Most people go through their lives undergoing a series of happenings which pass through their systems undigested. Happenings become experiences when they are digested and reflected upon. Synthesizing these ideas can lead to creative business solutions. Managers m ust reflect upon the actions of the company to ensure they are acting in a correct and socially responsible manner. Managers must look at this from the perspective of other stakeholder groups such as customers. Reflective managers are able to see behind in order to look ahead. Managers must pay attention to detail and to history. The problems made by the company in the past should not be repeated. The second mindset is managing organizations or the analytical mindset. Analysis breaks down complex phenomena into components or parts. Good analysis provides a language for organizing and it provides measure for performance. The key for analyzing effectively is to get beyond the conventional approaches in order to appreciate how analysis works and what effect it has on the organization. The use of analysis can enhance the problem solving abilities of the company. The third mindset is managing context or the worldly mindset. Managers have to look beyond their cubicles and appreciate the w orld around them in order to better serve the needs of the customers.