Fayol’s 14 principles — for effective management

Hello dear readers! Management is not a simple enough science that arose just over a hundred years ago. It is based on the 14 Fayol principles, which are used quite actively in their activities by leaders in order to achieve success and stability. And today I want to introduce you to this fundamental knowledge. Perhaps they will help you organize your work process in such a way that professional growth and a positive image of the company are ensured.

Henri Fayol

Although Henri is the progenitor of this science, in fact, by education he had nothing to do with management. He was a mining engineer and worked for a long time in the French mining company Comombo. Over time, he received the position of general manager. It happened in 1886, when Komombo was going to be declared bankrupt any day now. But a capable engineer managed to keep her afloat. And not just to keep, but also to ensure prosperity.

Henri retired in 1918, having made his concern the most successful and, importantly, stable enterprise in France. As you remember, from 1914 to 1918 there was the First World War. And it was thanks to the existence of the mining plant that it was possible to maintain the country’s defense capability.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Henri was awarded a mass of awards, among which was the Order of the Legion of Honor. It was founded by Napoleon Bonaparte himself in 1802.

Principles

Henri, thanks to his own experience of being in a leadership position, created a general system of principles relevant to any administrative activity. Regardless of the number of employees in the state, the level of wages of each of them, motivation, and so on. The basis of his concept was the position of the existence of a material and social organism. Their harmonious relationship with each other. That is, it is necessary to provide not only high-quality working conditions, but also to establish communication between the participants in this process.

Fayol’s 14 principles — for effective management

So, 14 principles:

Division of labor

In short and simple words, this is a process when a complex task is broken down into several simple ones. Or the number of goals set is reduced. Thanks to the division of labor, the enterprise gets the opportunity not only to increase the quantity of production, but also to significantly improve its quality.

Authority and responsibility

The manager has the right to use the resources of the company for which he works. Also show power in relation to subordinates, coordinating their activities for the successful implementation of the goals and objectives of the enterprise. The manifestation of power is accomplished through demands and orders that employees do not dispute, despite the fact that their opinion regarding the leader’s idea may differ significantly.

But there is no power without responsibility. The one who organizes a process is responsible for its consequences, regardless of whether they turned out to be favorable or not.

Discipline

Without it, there will be chaos and disorder. If employees do not adhere to the rules, they cannot be relied upon. Accordingly, what time frame for the implementation of the tasks can then be discussed? Motivates for strict compliance with the boundaries of the agreement on the performance of duties between management and performers. That is, for example, if an employee is late, he will be required to pay a fine. Five tardiness without a good reason should be dismissed.

Unity of command

Only one leader can give orders to subordinates. In the event of a dualism of management, that is, when different managers form tasks for the staff, there will definitely be a failure in work. This causes panic and anxiety.

Unity of directorates

In addition to the division of labor, it is important to create groups that will carry out one program. Typically, in organizations, such groups are divided into departments that are directly responsible for a particular “piece” of work. Each department should have its own head, who will supervise it.

Subordination of personal interests to the general

If each employee considers his personal desires above the interests of the organization, it will eventually suffer a sad fate. If the team works harmoniously for the benefit of the enterprise, then it will be able not only to satisfy its needs, but also to ensure professional growth for each of its members.

Reward

In order to motivate staff to achieve and promote the company, remuneration must correspond to the efforts made, the level of responsibility. At least be at least fair. By the way, this rule also applies to the managers themselves. The pressure that is exerted on them, with insufficient compensation of efforts, will quickly lead to professional burnout. And this threatens not only the health of the manager himself, but also affects the future of the company as a whole.

Centralization

With centralization, only top-level managers have the right to manage and make important decisions. Decentralization means that lower-level managers also bear responsibility by virtue of delegation of authority. So, it is important to maintain a balance between centralization and decentralization in order to anticipate an advantage in only one direction.

Fayol’s 14 principles — for effective management

Hierarchy

It is also called a scalar chain. Without this principle, the others cannot exist. Otherwise, there can be no question of any subordination. The distribution of power is carried out depending on the position in the hierarchy.

Order

Each employee must have their own place. Agree, it is difficult to fulfill your duties if the company did not take care in advance and did not provide everything necessary for successful operation.

Justice

If a person receives an unfair punishment, he will no longer trust the one who delivered the verdict. Then no dedication, no desire to promote, develop the company and work for its benefit. Accordingly, administrative management also includes such a duty as the fairness of decisions.

Workplace stability for employees

Staff turnover has never been good for business. Yes, and it significantly affects the image, and not for the better. In a successful leader, the staff holds its place. And this gives stability and stability.

Initiative

When a person has the opportunity to show his abilities, he not only reveals himself, but also helps to find non-standard solutions to difficult situations. That allows the company to bypass competitors, to stand in difficult times of crisis. If the initiative is punishable, the staff will be only a mediocre performer of their duties.

corporate spirit

The microclimate in the team is very important. Otherwise, it will be possible to say that the conditions for successful activity have not been created. When it is not comfortable to be among colleagues, it is impossible to concentrate. Emotional state can interfere with cognitive processes. That is, thinking, attention, trying to remember or learn something.

Completion

Finally, I would like to recommend that you read Fayol’s work «General and Industrial Management». In this book, he systematized the theory of management, which simplified the process of comprehending this science. Good luck and accomplishments!

By the way, Toyota also has 14 principles, but they are slightly different. You can read here.

The material was prepared by a psychologist, Gestalt therapist, Zhuravina Alina

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