Being a manager in any industry can be a fulfilling job, but it can also be a difficult one. You will need to find the right balance of friendliness and authority. You will need to create a good team atmosphere whilst achieving the bigger goals. So how do you strike that balance?
1. Do Your Job
First and foremost do your own job. Managing people isn’t an excuse to let them do the work whilst you look on. Of course, sometimes your job may involve being more strategic but your staff will respect you for doing what needs to be done and being willing to pitch in like everyone else at times. Many of us have had managers who use their role as an excuse to do less or attend more meetings. Get the balance right and earn respect from your staff.
2. Acknowledge The Positive
See the positives in your staff and their work. Don’t be one of those bosses who only sees what’s missing rather than what’s been achieved. It is demoralizing for staff to have someone only see what they have done ‘wrong’. Positivity breeds positivity. Genuine and meaningful praise goes a long way. If this is difficult for you, get in the habit of noting down positive things you notice about how your staff work. Give feedback regularly and let them know that you see the good work they do.
Things don’t always go smoothly in any workplace. You are a manager, so you must be willing to manage. Some people find it hard to set boundaries or give feedback but it is important to get over that hurdle. If you need some help with this don’t be afraid to ask your own boss for help or request training. It doesn’t come naturally to everyone. You can make a work situation worse by not being clear with staff if you are hesitant about managing. People appreciate genuine leadership. Practice managing and making the tough decisions. These things get easier with practice but people will appreciate knowing where you stand and any changes they need to make.
3. Be Vulnerable
If you make a mistake, be big about it and apologize. It can be scary and seem like you are making yourself vulnerable, but your staff will appreciate your honesty. No one expects a manager to be super human. Everyone likes someone who takes responsibility for your actions. Being honest will help you create a culture of honesty.
4. Be Real With People
The way we work is changing. You don’t have to be superhuman or untouchable. Be the real human being that you are. Let people at work know about your life and find out about others. If you let people know the “real you” it is much easier than having different personalities for your work and home life.
Let your staff know what’s going on behind the scenes, as appropriate. If something will affect a member of staff, make sure they are included in the communication. This doesn’t mean you have to let your staff know everything. Sometimes keeping communications back until the correct time can save panic and needless worrying. Communicate appropriately and consistently but be aware of how communication (or lack of it) can affect your staff.
5. Lead By Example
If you want your staff to behave in a certain way (professional, good team players), then lead by example. It is not fair to expect your staff to do something if you are not doing it yourself.
6. Be Self Aware
Be aware of your moods and how you communicate. You may not realise how much of an impact you have on your team as a manager. You may know you are in a bad mood about the dog chewing your shoes this morning but staff may feel that they have done something wrong if they don’t know this! Be aware of how and what you communicate. Your team will pick up on it.
7. Have Fun
Having fun at work can help make the work easier for everyone, forge positive relationships and strengthen your team. There is usually room for more fun in any work environment, but if the nature of your work makes that difficult, be sure to schedule fun activities when you can. Meeting for lunch or drinks after work can help build relationships and help your team to see you and each other in a new light. If you create a positive work atmosphere it also becomes easier to deal with challenges as they arise.
8. Trust Yourself
At the end of the day, there is no one right way to be a manager. Trust yourself and learn through your mistakes. Managing others is a great way to develop and enhance your leadership skills and create a positive work experience for yourself and others.
Are you or have you been a manager? What advice would you add to this list?
(Image courtesy of planetlight under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 generic license.)
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I would also like to add be a team player, as part of being a good manager if you can have good relation ship with your team and employees, they will want to work for you, if you go that extra mile for them, they will appreciate it and you will get the best out of them.
Great point… “Team player” is one of my favorites words as a manager.
Great point Wasim – a good relationship with your team pays dividends. As you say, people want to go the extra mile for people they respect and feel appreciated by.
Jen
#5 is my favorite. It is really easy for me to recognize a manager I’ll like and this is typically one of the top determining factors.
Yes, me too Bryce! Walking the talk is so important. Without the action to back up the words, you will lose the respect of your employees. Thanks for joining in the conversation.
Jen
Hope that you don’t mind that I translated the article to Spanish with the appropriate attribution: http://www.enespanol.com.ar/2011/02/10/8-consejos-rapidos-para-ser-mejor-jefe/
Thanks for spreading the word Toote. It may just be worth dropping the editor a message to let them know.
Thanks, Jen
Thanks for letting us know…and spreading the WorkAwesome word! Even better, thanks for properly attributing the author. Jen deserves the credit!
Excellent points. It’s so important to earn the respect of your employees. I’ve never understood managers who expect their employees to work late and leave early. I would also add that managers, as difficult as this might be, should try to avoid succumbing to the urge to gossip with their employees.
I totally agree Ronika! I think some managers think because they are in that position, they are entitled to do things like that, but I really think leading by examples pays dividends. As a good manager I had once said, “don’t expect your staff to do anything you wouldn’t do yourself”.
Your point about not gossiping with employees is a great one. I have had managers that have done things like that (including whispering with another member of staff about other employees whilst in the office!). It erodes trust and respect and creates bad feelings ultimately. Definitely one to be avoided!
Jen
Holy crap! This entire thing explains why my last job was a failure… my previous manager would do well to put this article to practice, lol.
Great article Jen! I would like to add one point:
Eliminate ‘blame culture’ by making it ok to make genuine mistakes. Indemnify people who are honest about their errors & work proactively to solve the problem rather than pointing fingers.
Unfortunately, too many work environments are ‘blame focused’ which not only makes people fearful & dishonest but lowers morale & kills team spirit!
Indeed, be real with people. Being real is showing honesty, openness and also humility to your subordinates. It can also mean that you truly is sincere to them. By doing, understanding exists between managers and subordinates. Great article, thanks for sharing Jen. Surely managers will learn from this post.
Jen great article, now everything is making sense!
Hi, I would like to thank the write for this awesome article also I want to take his opinion about being a new to management…What is the best way to make the relation between me and the employees stronger and let them to feel comfortable working with me…I can feel that they don’t even take it from me any serious! I was at the same position but later I got a raise and I become the manager! so what is the best way to set the limits and make things to be so real? …
Actually i have learn lots of useful informaton from these 8 tips there for i think it is really useful for a manager, even it is so simple but i was not aware of that gains thanks for that kind of great information.
All the 8 tips are of good help to me because i am new in this field of management and i am always afraid to point out thing but this page have really helped me learn a lot.
Put yourself in the place of your employee and give them the priveliges you gave yourself , if only for a short time . Then you wil know how they feel . Also get to know your basic conditions of employment act , labour Relations act and basic human rights acts. If all else fails consult your Union Chairpersons with the help of your Labour relations Officer.
From a Chairperson.
Hospersa ( left )
P.S.A. ( Newly )
good ideass !!
thank you for the tips will teach them to my staff members so that we become an effective team & produce the results our organisation wants to see.
first of all i will say thanks for this eight points .
really this is an very important points which i must appreciate the work done by you is nice .
but if you have some other data or you know some good online books plz. tell me thanks ……….
Thank you so much for these 8 tips! I am returning to management for a 2nd time and I really want to be an effective manager this time around. The problems I have are much like the “new manager”, I was promoted to manage the employees that I worked beside and they are my friends. So, I guess my question is how to be an effective manager to employees that are my friends and we were equals?? Any advice is welcome!
#2,#4 and #…. I like these points.
Being in the post of Manager and to understand the atmosphere around you in the company and also to understand the mind setup of your team members (Individually) is really a tough job.
Be precise and always true and straight from your heart….
is the best mantra for being good.
They are real good points and clear all an anticipated mistates that woud otherwise cost a manager. But please, can you take into consideration of staffs with unpredicted behaviour who wouldn’t pay dividends to all almost eigth criteria above explaned, and still bring trouble to a manager. I stand ready to be corrected
Yes, all these tips are a must in being a great manager. Also, you must not forget being consistent, fair and organized. I have been in positions where employees were on vacation and here I was thinking they did not show up. Being organized will prevent such things. Being consistent to the point where you ALWAYS handle a situation in the same manner or fashion. You may find it that you may take it easier sometimes on an employee that you favor. Things like that should not exist in your position. Be consistent all around.
All the 8 tips are of good help to me because i am new in this field of management and i am always afraid to point out thing but this page have really helped me learn a lot.
I like this article a lot. I am adding below tips in this.
(1) Communication
(2) Patience
Wort reading…
Its hard for me to work with co workers that expect you to do all the work. my boss said i could get my 2nd raise. how do i go about ask about gettin that. ive always heard u do the work before u get the pay.i also have a manager who wont say anything the whole shift. weird,
I am a new manager. I manage two workers in the ag. business. We are all the same age and I am left in charge to keeping things running. I care about my job and seem to worry to much. Which stresses me out. I feel that my workers may not take me seriously. I enjoyed the 8 tips. They will be helpful!
I have being a manager, for the past 1 year. My staff do not respect me as a manager. What will i do to make my staff repect me and do a good job to the tast of a customer.
Tel:08032605690
My advice would be that you need to first understand why they don’t respect you. Sometimes we feel that we are not respected when it is only that we are feeling insecure. You need to be able to make a choices and not doubt yourself. Try asking others for their opinion on the subject before making your decision. That way you make them part of the choice and they feel that they are contributing and makes them feel part of the company.
pull out the rule book, challenge the most problematic employee and dicipline them. That should do it. Nobody likes a soft arse.
Very nice and practical ideas..i am a new manager and till now what i have experienced from my few days job is that, patience is the key to all success in life…So, my advice to all my mates participating in this conversation is be patient with your workers.
Dear friends, you are right.
but there are some problems in some communities to manage them.
for example, in Afghanistan the best manager is a manager who has the right to terminate an employ, other ways he can not be an excellent manager however he has all managing points. could you please tel me know what king of management is good for them.
To be a manager, only can handle the relationship with employee is not enough…… well, how about the management team members, how about our boss…… We, the manager, just like a bridge link between the upper and the lower layer. This job is really really not easy because the skill is different as when we face to our boss, our staffs and our team members!!
I think I need a senior to be my teacher ….. all these can not be learnt from any one of the management course!!
TQ
Great 8 tips indeed.If you’re a manager you have to talk the talk,walk the walk ,be visible and lead by example.If you can do just this, I promise you’ll never go wrong.
All of this is very true, I would also like to add that as a manager it is very important to
try and respect your employees culture (where they come from). You should be
able to be flexable enough to say…”I understand”.
Being able to know when to give a little and where to apply the brakes.
Thanks to all of you. Management is really a big part of our life. It makes our life perfect.
I like all that i have read above and i have just got a job of being an overall company manager and am wondering how to go about it, am just new in the field ( just graduated).
Any suggestions and advices are very welcome,
thanks,
Doreen Anyijukire
good web
great points there and agree with them all.
Great article.
I would add though that you shouldnt be afraid of been brutaly honest with employees that are under performing. stern, straight, honest sort it out or as lord sugar would say “your fired”. (obviously following your companies D&G guidelines before doing so) Some people cant be saved
a nice and appreciable thing to enhance the ability of any person