14 Principles of Management (Part 2)

The 14 principles of management have been used and referred to by new managers for more than a century. It is a great starting point to help them learn the ropes of managing employees.

Businesses have been a hallmark of human civilizations for eons, but it wasn’t until the last century that management was formally studied.

Leading the emerging academic field was Henry Fayol who is credited as one of the chief architects of modern management theories practiced today. By drawing up the 14 principles of management, he lay the founding blocks for how organizations are run today.

This is part of a 2-part series. Read part 1 for principles 1-7.

Principles of Management #8 – The Degree of Centralization

Don’t concentrate the power of authority within one management level. Usually, organizations have power centered at the top which leaves middle and lower-level managers with little say in company decisions. This leads to resentment and disorder caused by office politics.

Principles of Management #9 – Scalar Chain

Establish a clear chain of communication in the organization. Everybody should know how to reach somebody and through what means.

Principles of Management #10 – Material and Social Order

If you want your employees to succeed, give them the resources and support to do so. Through periodic performance review meetings, managers can determine what an employee needs to succeed in the organization. If an employee is doing well, they are rewarded. Conversely, if they are doing poorly, the manager will work on motivating and developing their skills to boost performance.

Principles of Management #11 – Equity

Every employee should feel equal to their peers. Preferential treatment to over-achievers will only sour relations in the work environment and demotivate those who are struggling to meet their goals.

Principles of Management #12 – Stability of Tenure of Personnel

It is expensive to lose an employee. Therefore, organizations must focus on keeping employee turnover low. Managers should give new staff members ample time and support for adjusting to their new environment by being flexible and available to listen to their concerns and needs.

Principles of Management #13 – Initiative

Encourage employees to contribute ideas to managers. Most modern organizations achieve this by having an open door policy to make them feel comfortable in expressing their ideas.

Principles of Management #14 – Esprit de Corps

A star quality of managers is the ability to motivate. They should know how to inspire and get the best work out of their employees. By having a strong bond with their team and enforcing a spirit of unity, managers are better able to understand what drives employees.

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