
See things from four perspectives.
© iStockphoto/nilsz
"Managers who master the hammer and expect all problems to behave like nails find organizational life confusing and frustrating." – Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal
"When you're in a hole, stop digging." – Denis Healy, British Politician
Tony runs a small team of IT developers. He helps his people meet their objectives by setting clear goals, and by making sure that everyone knows their roles.
The problem is that Tony's organization is currently being restructured, and projects he has been championing are being called into question. As a result, Tony is stressed, and is struggling to motivate his team.
Although we may not like to admit it, many of us are like Tony; we rely on only a few approaches for leading our teams. Then, when things change, or when we're in new situations, we're not as effective as we could be.
One way to overcome this common problem is to use Bolman and Deal's Four Frame Approach. This tool teaches us to view situations using four different perspectives. This then helps us to think about different ways of managing difficult situations.
Mind Tools members, click here.
Join now for just $1, first month

Get training, help and ideas to boost your career: the Mind Tools Club gives you much, much more than you get here on the basic Mind Tools site.
And if you join before midnight on May 9th, we'll also give you a FREE copy of our Future-Proof Your Career workbook.
Join the Mind Tools Club before midnight, May 9th, and get our Future-Proof Your Career workbook (worth US$19.99) for FREE.
Learn on the move with the free Mind Tools iPhone, iPad and Android Apps. Short bursts of business training ideal for busy people.