Dad and Mom’s “One Minute Manager”

“Humility does not mean you think less of yourself. It means you think of yourself less.” Kenneth Blanchard (born May 6, 1939), American author and management expert

“In one minute you can change your attitude and in that one minute you can change your entire day.” Spencer Johnson (born January 1, 1940), American author and management consultant

Although in today’s society the family is now graphically viewed with varied faces and features as an effect of modernization and change, however, the basic picture representation of a family is still the same – mother, father, and child. The quotations I chose for this article are from the two bestselling authors of the book “One Minute Manager” that sold 13 million copies and has been translated in 37 languages. It is about a positive managerial technique that can bring about change in an organization. The managerial technique revolves around the belief that workers who like and believe in their own selves and in their individual capabilities perform efficiently better than those who did not.

Parents are leaders inside the home. They are managers in their own right. Thus “One Minute Manager” is something that they can apply and make use of to their children, household members, and other members inside the home. One minute manager is therefore not just within the context of business but also within the family – the home.

Secrets to Dad and Mom’s “One Minute Manager”

1. One minute goal setting. For example, you asked your boy to clean his room. In the process, he would not know if you are asking him to sweep the floor, arrange his books in the shelf, put his things in order, or do all the three. On the other hand if you asked him to arrange his books and put his things in order, he would know exactly what to do and both of you will be satisfied of the things he had done to his room. Set the goals in a clear and understandable manner. Let him know the goals at the beginning of the task.

2. One minute praisings. It does not even take a minute to tell somebody that he did a good job. You simply had to tell a kid, as an example, that he did something good and you noticed it. If you praise a child, he begins to like himself and he gains confidence. You encourage him to do more good and strive for the better.

3. One minute reprimands. This is highly effective because the feedback is immediate. Tell him that he did something wrong. But no blaming! Criticize the work not the doer. Sink in with a few seconds of uncomfortable silence and tell him how valuable he is to you. Once it’s over, it’s over.