Task and People Management

Managers must rely on people to get the job done. The manager focuses his energy on directing (planning), providing resources (organising) and monitoring and control. The job gets executed by people.

Management therefore has two legs:

• Managing the task (plan, organise, control),
• Managing the people to get the job done (communicate, coach, guide). (This is different from leadership, where your focus will be inspirational.)

Task-Oriented Managers

Task-oriented managers have several characteristics that help make sure that things get done in a manner that are both proficient and on time, every time. These managers usually create clear, easy-to-follow work schedules with specific requirements and deadlines. The pros of this management style are that it maintain high standards with optimal efficiency. Employees who need structure and who struggle with managing their time work best under this kind of task-oriented leadership, because it’s more organised and deadline driven.

The negatives of task-oriented leadership are that it can lead to a lack of employee autonomy and creativity, which can result in low morale in the office. When an employee must work under very strict deadlines and excessive task orientation, it can bring the company culture down. Employees who are self-motivated tend to rebel in this type of environment.

The lack of creativity under excessively task-oriented management can have a negative effect on a company’s productivity as well, since it tends to deaden innovation. When a manager is to task-oriented, the cons can sometimes outweigh the positives.

People-Oriented Managers

A people-oriented management style tends to energize employees because it makes them feel appreciated for the work they do. One of the biggest benefits of people-oriented management is that the focus on employee relationships makes employees feel that they make a difference in the company. And better, more effective efforts come from people who feel that they’re a part of a company’s success.

People-oriented management, however, also come with several challenges. Sometimes, employees may feel that the responsibilities they’ve been given are overwhelming, and they may need more direction. Ineffective decisions may result if the focus is consistently put on the manager and employee relationships, rather than the important business decisions that need to be made.

Click here to view a video that explains task vs people management.