Management

5 Tips for Getting it Right

Get to know your employees on a professional and personal level

Being a manager doesn’t mean that you should be cold or unfriendly. While it’s necessary for them to acknowledge your authority, there’s also nothing wrong with building rapport. This will be crucial in the future when you need to have difficult discussions about personal issues that may be affecting their work.

Take the time to learn more about your employees, including their career goals and personal interests. Get to know their relationships and passions outside of work that make them uniquely who they are. Knowing them as a person, and not just as an employee, will help you understand them more and leverage that information to help them succeed at work.

Delegate some of your work

Many people who get promoted to managerial positions often try to everything by themselves and take on more work. However, effective managers understand the value of delegating.

Assign tasks and duties to your team member with the right set of skills and outlook to get the job done right and on time. If no one knows how to do the job, take some time to teach them. Your time is better spent on more important tasks, instead of routine tasks that anyone else in your team can easily learn and accomplish.

Lead by example

Be a leader, and not just a manager. Turn your team’s motivation towards a clear direction and goal. Show them how they can be successful within the organization by letting them learn from your example.

If you have high standards for your team, work ethically and with integrity. Don’t play favorites or single out specific employees for certain types of tasks or projects. Cultivate trust by demonstrating that you also have the qualities that you want your team members to have.

Be an effective communicator

Communicating with your team members is one of the most important skills that you need to know as a manager. It’s impossible to lead and manage a team effectively if you can’t motivate people, make them understand your vision, or provide feedback properly. Here are some tips to help improve your communication style:

  • Prepare your points beforehand and practice saying them out loud.
  • Set clear expectations and specific due dates. Don’t make your employees read between the lines.
  • Always keep your team updated with what’s happening in the company and any future plans. Your transparency will foster an inclusive culture where they won’t be afraid to voice their concerns, opinions, and ideas.
  • Be open to discussions and encourage original thinking and creativity.

Learn how to listen

Leading requires learning, and learning involves listening. As a manager, you should never make your employees feel that they don’t have the ability to speak their opinion or contribute to positive change in the organization.

When you listen and let your team members express themselves, you show your respect for them and also gain deeper insights. Below are some tips to help you listen well and keep an open mind:

  • Effective listening skills involve five components: receiving, understanding, remembering, assessing, and responding. Go through these components one by one whenever you are talking to an employee.
  • Be attentive, maintain eye contact, take notes when necessary, and wait for them to finish before you start talking.
  • Let go of your preconceived notions and don’t jump to conclusions before or during the conversation.
  • Listen with the goal of knowing as much as you can about the situation. Prepare for discussions and meetings, but never assume that you know what your employees are thinking, what the problem is, or what the solution is.

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