Shaun Vembutty is primarily concerned with the quality, architectural design, and location of Ashton Gray Development's spec homes and commercial projects. It’s true what they say: managing people is easier said than done so let’s examine why it is so important to adopt an educator management style.

1. The Educator Management Style: Tips and Pointers
Shaun Vembutty
Shaun Vembutty

2. Shaun Vembutty
It’s true what they say: managing people is easier said than done so let’s examine why it is so important to
adopt an educator management style. Firstly, we all know that making mistakes is normal and a skilled
manager understands that mistakes are the best opportunities to teach. Even though skills and abilities are
best attained through trial and error, it is possible to minimize future errors by properly addressing mistakes
as they occur. A skilled manager has learned through his or her own errors that corrective feedback isn’t
overly critical or demoralizing: It is possible to kindly direct people in the right direction and get your
message across at the same time. Everyone possesses the ability to learn so it is extremely important to
focus on the progress of individuals rather than perfection, because it is also true that not everyone learns
at the same pace.
When dealing with a mistake, including the employee in the problem-solving process is helpful in creating a
specific plan to address the underlying cause of the problem. Regardless of how motivated your staff may
be, managers are needed because they coordinate and direct the efforts of individuals to meet company
goals.

3. Take a look at these sever steps for problem solving in the workplace:
Shaun Vembutty
Previously published in The Business Journal of Sonoma/Marin

4. 1. Identify the issues
Shaun Vembutty
 Be clear about what the problem is.
 Remember that different people might have different views of what the issues are.
 Separate the listing of issues from the identification of interests (that's the next step!).

5. 2. Understand everyone's interests
Shaun Vembutty
 This is a critical step that is usually missing.
 Interests are the needs that you want satisfied by any given solution. We often
ignore our true interests as we become attached to one particular solution.
 The best solution is the one that satisfies everyone's interests.
 This is the time for active listening. Put down your differences for a while and listen
to each other with the intention to understand.

6. 3. List the possible solutions
Shaun Vembutty
 This is the time to do some brainstorming. There may be lots of room for creativity.
 Separate the listing of options from the evaluation of the options.

7. 4. Evaluate the options
Shaun Vembutty
 What are the pluses and minuses? Honestly!
 Separate the evaluation of options from the selection of options.

8. 5. Select an option or options
Shaun Vembutty
 What's the best option, in the balance?
 Is there a way to "bundle" a number of options together for a more
satisfactory solution?

9. 6. Document the agreement(s)
Shaun Vembutty
 Don't rely on memory.
 Writing it down will help you think through all the details and
implications.

10. 7. Agree on contingencies, monitoring, and evaluation
Shaun Vembutty
 Conditions may change. Make contingency agreements about
foreseeable future circumstances (If-then!).
 How will you monitor compliance and follow-through?
 Create opportunities to evaluate the agreements and their
implementation. ("Let's try it this way for three months and then look at
it.")

11. Shaun Vembutty
With educating, organization and structure is key. A steady, methodical approach
can be quite helpful in the problem-solving process and although one never may not
achieve “perfection,” progress is inevitable for the diligent educator manager.