What really matters as a manager? It is not enough just to focus on results; You should be more interested in people to be successful. Because when you are a manager, your success depends on the quality of your team. Getting the best from people is your daily task. Unfortunately, there are far fewer better and more efficient managers today.
So, how do you become a better manager? The steps to becoming a better manager are easy, but maybe not so simple to follow by everyone. However, if you put in a bit of work, you will get there without too many challenges.
Here are 16 easy steps to becoming a better manager:
1. Hire Better People
First, hire better people who have more skills than you. They will make you a better manager. Good employees are passionate enough you don’t need to tell them what to do because they can self-manage and do a better job.
Once there is something to do, they will work out how to do it themselves. You don’t need to manage them at all.
2. Care About Your Employees
Show your employees that you care about them. And do it all the time, not only when you feel like it suits you. One thing to keep in mind is that your staff always watch to see whether you care about them.
Besides, your success or failure as a manager partly comes from the relationship between you and your team members.
3. Communicate your Expectations
Talk about your expectations clearly with everyone concern. You want your employees to act and behave according to your interests and expectations.
Very few employees really know what is expected of them, and the reason is usually that their manager has not clearly communicated it.
Set your priorities and communicate them clearly. It’s not enough just to tell employees what’s important and how they should behave. Tell them which are your expectations and priorities, so they know what to do first.
Related: 7 Tips for How to Manage a Team Leader
4. Listen Actively
You want to know what your employees think. Listen and reflect when they are talking to you. You want to know the perceptions of your employees.
Some managers have problems with listening. They think if you hear something they disagree with, they must respond right away.
That’s not the right way to behave. So, stop with your judgment and listen. Remember that the reason you are actively listening is to understand, but not necessarily to agree.
5. Trust Your Employees
Have faith in your employees. If you don’t trust them, you will have a hard time getting everyone to do their best.
Having faith in the team sends a positive signal that the manager believes in them. Then they work harder beyond their limits because they don’t want you to fail.
6. Be Open
Tell the team what they do right and what needs to improve. If your team is not doing the right things, let them know and then show them what you think the best way to go.
But mind your voice tone and body language because you don’t want to come across as rude.
7. Be Flexible
Be flexible because there are no same days is the same in the manager’s life. There’s no guarantee that everything you want to do will go according to plan. You should be ready to respond and adjust your plans in response to new situations.
Also, be flexible in your behavior when dealing with people. Remember that every member of your team is an individual. So, you might need to adjust your management style to suit each employee.
8. Be Available to Support
Be available and get the attention of all your staff. But being present does not mean stepping on people and start micromanaging them. Your presence instills something in your employees to believe the manager is always available to support them when needed.
Acting superior to your employees only causes a toxic work environment. So always be available to listen, talk, and support.
9. Become Responsible
Being a manager doesn’t mean you are perfect or innocent. As a leader, you are responsible for the performance of the team.
When there is a team mistake, take full responsibility for it and resolve the issue without accusing team members.
Read more: 14 Key Areas of Improvement for Managers
10. Think Like a Leader
A leader can think outside of their area of expertise or a level above their departments. Don’t be close-minded and talk only about your team.
You need to learn about other departments and even compliment the good value those other departments contribute toward the business goal.
11. Ask Simple Questions
Questions should be part of your daily communication as a manager with your employees. Questions will help you understand the actions of your team and what they think of you.
Always ask simple questions, and don’t tell or making statements. Just ask easy open-ended or clarifying questions like “what do you think? or what is an appropriate time?”
Keep your questions short and relevant to the point at hand. Then stop and listen to people. Doing so will help your employees understand and clarify your priorities and expectations.
12. Seek for Good Ideas
Talk to your employees and get their ideas. Being a manager does not mean that you are the only person who has great ideas and better solutions. It is simply not true.
Your employees are full of good ideas and creativity that will increase productivity and help you succeed as a manager.
Part of your job is to make it easier for your employees to express their ideas without fear of being ridiculed.
13. Coach Your Employees
You cannot be a better manager if you don’t coach your employees. You need to have regular coaching conversations with your team members and get it right.
Before you start, find out what drives each employee or what skills are lacking, and then help each person learn and grow on an ongoing basis.
14. Be a Role Model
Employees follow what you do, not what you say. It is right telling your staff the behaviors you expect to see. You need to be demonstrating those behaviors yourself.
So, don’t ask people to behave in a certain way, but you end up behaving in another. They will not follow what you say.
Read Also: 10 Best Ways of Communicating at Work
15. Give Feedback Promptly
Feedback given close to the event is better than when details are no longer in anyone’s mind. Find a way to provide non-judgemental feedback straight after the event or as close as possible.
But be sure your intention for giving feedback is to be helpful and not punishing the other person.
16. Seek Feedback
Your actions contribute to team behavior. So, ask team members to give you regular feedback with examples. It will help you improve your leadership style.
And when you are receiving feedback, you must restrain your impulse to interrupt. Just listen patiently to understand how you impact the team.
In conclusion
To become a Better Manager you Need to; Hire better people, Seek for good ideas, Be a role model, Coach your employees, Think and act like a leader, Become available to your team, Be a flexible manager, Trust your employees, Listen actively, Communicate your expectations, Seek and give feedback regularly, Ask simple questions, Be responsible, Be open.
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