Caring is Step 1

Its a cheesy thing to say, but often good management starts with something as simple as just caring.

This isn't the completely altruistic sense of the word - part of this is actually caring about being successful both for yourself and your company.

But it is largely outward focused. Good project management is about caring who it is you are working for, caring for the success of the company or idea you are serving, caring about the needs of the person - for their deadlines, budgets, etc. On a baseline level, this IS effective management and will extend and evolve as you practice it.

On the inverse side of caring, another motivating factor can be fear. But if fear is gripping you to the point that it is driving your actions, you'll get tripped up in the defense or protection of yourself and your own interests - and that will almost always steer you toward the wrong decision.

Fear led GM to the debacle they find themselves in today, as it did with the real estate brokers who were trying to protect their lifestyles and assets. But caring motivates you to make a different decision for yourself and your client, one that considers more factors than just your climb up the ladder and your finances.

So how do you do something as vague as care? Start with some of the most simple acts and let it grow from there. Get to know your client (personally), their business, their product and services - find something worthwhile, something remarkable about who they are and what they do - and find something to genuinely care about. Your management decisions will mature in impact and effectiveness as you do.