23 Mar 2014

Artists who operate as groups have been challenged to practice good group management to ensure the promotion and success of their groups.

In an interview, Kgatleng Drama Association chairperson and a member of Kgatleng Performing Arts Commune, John Marumo said group management was essential for artists’ development as it promoted order within a group.

“Good group management can provide artistes with a much greater chance of success and reduce their chances of failing as it promotes order. It helps to monitor the behaviour of artistes. Where there is good group management, artistes do not do as they please because there are leaders that monitor and discipline them,” he said.

Furthermore, Marumo, also a member of and Ngwao Loshalaba, said group management promoted good communication among members and helped them to maintain good relations, unity and cooperation.

Marumo said good group management eased allocation of duties to members, a gesture that promoted the success of the group as it afforded each member an opportunity to play a role.

He noted that planning was also essential and should be the first thing before performing a series of managerial functions because it set the future course of action for all aspects of the group.

“Planning is one of the most difficult activities a group of artistes must do. Yet it is essential for a group to do it because, before taking action, a group must know where it is going and how to get there,” he said.

Marumo said a well-developed plan guided artistes and their leaders as it gave direction, motivated artistes and provided an attractive environment to customers.

He said although planning is so important in the promotion and success of artistes, many neglect it because the day-to-day activities leave them with little or no time for planning and because they fear the problems and weaknesses in planning may manifest.

He also said that artistes fail to plan because they lack knowledge of how to plan and sometimes think that future cannot be planned for.

Marumo advised artistes to familiarise themselves with planning, saying that it requires original thinking, and helps one in taking advantage of promising opportunities and cope with unexpected eventualities.

Furthermore, Marumo advised artistes or groups to have a constitution as it helps to govern or guide members. It also gives a clear description of each member’s roles, rights and responsibilities as well as privileges.

Marumo also said that a constitution helps in the resolution of disputes between members, hence it promotes peace and unity among members. Weak leadership can result in the failure of a group, hence the need for artistes to be wise when choosing their leaders, he said.

He also advised that leaders should have good leadership qualities, be autonomous, assertive, confident and have a high self-esteem.

They should not fear to take risks in order to take their group to a much higher level, he added. Marumo advised artistes to be passionate and committed, saying that for a group to succeed, members should be passionate, visionary, committed and focused. ENDS