Being An Effective Manager 101
While everyone has their own style when it comes to being a manager, I believe there are some basic attributes that we all need to foster, if we want to be the most effective manager that we can be.
Leading by Example: This may seem obvious, but there are still quite a few managers that do not lead by example. You cannot expect your employees to be motivated, solution-oriented, and proactive if you don’t possess these qualities. Whatever you expect of your employees, you first need to be the personification of it; otherwise, you will lose credibility and the respect of your staff quickly.
Delegate With Purpose: As a manager, it’s vital to delegate responsibilities to individuals who can complete tasks based on clear and precise instructions. You also need to let people know up to which point they can make decisions without your permission; if they must keep coming to you for the go-ahead, not much will ever be accomplished. Delegating is also necessary for you to get more work done; one person cannot simply do everything. The sooner this lesson is learned, the better!
Employee Goals and Objectives: Employees need to have something to work towards; otherwise, inertia and apathy will set in, which leads to a very low-energy environment where nothing or no one can thrive. Apart from general company and/or organization goals and targets, each employee, as part of their annual focus, should have specific and measurable goals to reach. These goals then need to be reviewed regularly to tweak them or simply review their status.
Clear and Precise Communication: The quality of all relationships depends on how effective the communication is. People do not have crystal balls; without clearly stating your expectations and requirements, it is almost impossible for employees to fully understand what is expected of them. Avoid endless and pointless meetings at all costs; instead, opt for short sessions that follow a clear agenda that will be reviewed on an individual basis.
Open Door Policy: It is also very important that employees have access to you as a manager; managers that shut themselves away in a closed office very often have staff issues and low productivity among their employees. The best managers understand that being a manager is a people job and always make time for their employees. Bad managers are devastating to a company, and if there are too many of them, they can bring down the entire company. Successful managers, on the other hand, really understand the importance of engaging their employees through dialogue and a clear and exciting vision.
Accountability: Exceptional managers also understand that the buck stops with them, and they are not afraid to be held accountable for the lack of results that stem from their actions or directives. They do not blame the team but, instead, look inward for what needs to be changed and how they can get the ship back on course. Through their unwavering accountability, they create relationships with their employees that are built on trust, honest discourse, and transparency.
Recognize the Achievements of Others: The worst kind of manager is the one who takes credit for the achievements of others, and believe me, there are many of them. I believe that most employees start out wanting to do a good job, but if their effort is never rewarded, either through simple praise or some monetary incentive, they will quickly shut down and become unproductive. Unfortunately, too many managers fail to recognize and reward employees for doing a good job—this is a guaranteed recipe for disaster.
