Being a More Effective Manager
While there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to being a better manager, there are certain things that you can do to boost your success as a manager. So what are the key secrets to being a more effective manager?
You might well have a new job title, new desk and a new job description. On the other hand, have you mentally made the shift to being in a role where your job is to make things happen? Don’t expect to just continue as if you were still in the old job.
When you become a manager, you need to become good at getting the best from others. Too often new managers try to be a lone ranger rather than utilising the skills, experience and attributes of those at their disposal.
There will always be lots of things that you could fill your day doing. However, it is vital that you focus your attention on those areas that really matter. Get to understand the 20% of things that you do that contribute 80% towards the results that you deliver.
The people that you manage need to know what is expected of them. This requires you to give clear and unambiguous goals and expectations to those that you manage.
If you are to get the best from others, you need to understand what it is that makes them tick. Make a point of finding out what motivates the people you manage.
Time after time we hear about employees being disillusioned because of a lack of feedback. Remember that feedback is not something that you store up for some formal appraisal or performance review meeting. It’s something that you can provide day in, day out.
People want to be supported and one thing that you can do is to discover what the career aspirations of your people are and then help them to achieve them.
There will be some people that you have more of a connection with than others. This is human nature. At the same time, you need to treat everyone fairly.
