In thirty years of successful business, Rick Siskey has mentored many fellow travelers on the road to success. “There is book after book on managing and working with people,” says Rick Siskey. As he has navigated through countless suggestions about how to achieve success, Rick Siskey believes it can be narrowed down to five key ideas. “In no way, however, am I saying these five principles are mutually exclusive of each other or even the sum total,” explains Rick Siskey, as he describes these basic principles of management.

A foundational principle for Rick Siskey is that “an average concept with great management will beat a great concept with average management.” For Rick Siskey, great ideas alone do not make great business. “Bottom line, everything truly rises and falls on leadership,” says Siskey. Rick Siskey maintains that a good manager can take an average concept and through seasoned leadership turn it into something great. “As well, a poor manager can take an outstanding concept and downsize it to nothing,” notes Rick Siskey.

Rick Siskey points out that another concept vital to management is “an outcome is controlled by your mind.” While Rick Siskey understands that a person cannot control all factors in business, there are some that he or she can control. “We can take control of our mind and the ways we react to life,” explains Rick Siskey. “How many times have I met managers who frequently seem ‘caught off guard?’” says Siskey. The solution to such management, maintains Rick Siskey, is evaluating and planning.

Another crucial management principle for Rick Siskey is found in the idea that, “those who learn to listen have the advantage.” Active listening can solve many conflicts and problems before they even arise, explains Siskey. “Active listeners hear beyond what is just being said,” continues Rick Siskey. Active listening hears the emotions, motives and also what the communicator, is not saying, states Rick Siskey.

For Rick Siskey, delegation is equally important to successful management. One of his favorite quotations is, “Delegate everything but genius; Frank Sinatra didn’t move pianos.” Living your strengths as a manager, maintains Rick Siskey, is important. “Your genius is what makes you the manager you are,” explains Rick Siskey. “Delegate, or in other words, give away as much power as possible.” Siskey clarifies that delegation is not pushing off unwanted work or last minute tasks on direct reports. “Delegation is intentional and purposeful and when done right it helps people grow,” adds Rick Siskey.

One final thought from Rick Siskey: When a task seems overwhelming, take it one step at a time. “You cannot eat the proverbial elephant in one big bite,” Rick Siskey points out. “When your task, your vision appears impossible, think through a strategy in which you can take it one step at a time, short win after short win,” concludes Rick Siskey.

For more information, contact Rick Siskey at Siskey Industries at rsiskey@siskeyindustries.com