Here is a brief excerpt from an article by Victor Lipman for Forbes. To read the complete article, check out others, and obtain subscription information, please click here.

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When it comes to management, I’ve always been a bigger believer in fundamentals than fancy. Sure, there’s nothing at all wrong with, say, presentation skills that spellbind an audience of thousands, but when it comes to operational effectiveness, chances are that will be determined by how well you execute fundamentals day in and day out. In that spirit, here are [two of six] 6 fundamentals that can make you a better manager in 2014.

1. Be open to new ways of looking at things. The best managers are flexible, adaptable, and closely attuned to their environment. They’re always looking for opportunities. Be a good listener. Many of the best process improvement ideas routinely come from employees in the trenches, as they’re the ones closest to the actual work. Rigidity is the enemy of progress. Don’t be afraid to shift the paradigm and move away from, “This is the way we’ve always done it here.”

2. Expect excellence. Set high but not unattainable standards and expect your employees to meet them. The best managers are ultimately not those who are “toughest” or “nicest,” but those who get the best results from people in their charge. Once your employees recognize you have unfailingly high standards, that’s key data they won’t forget. If your employees know you demand excellence from yourself, they’re more likely to find it in themselves.

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Management is a complex endeavor requiring a diverse skill set. Mastery of fundamentals provides a solid foundation on which to build everyday operations. These are six basic ones, by no means an exhaustive list, but six reliable old ones to help get a new year off to a strong start.

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To read the complete article, please click here.

To learn more about Victor Lipman, please click here.