Enhance your management skills; increase your value
Do you manage a staff? A large staff? A small staff? It doesn’t really matter how big your staff is. Good managers are really hard to come by. Many managers aren’t groomed for the job; they become managers through promotions. Some are inadequate in the area at best; others are downright tyrannical and leave destruction and substantial attrition in their wake. Then there are those people that are very strong managers. You know them because they have happy and productive teams; they have virtually no turnover in their group, and they have a high performing staff.
What are some of the principles of good managers? Here are some examples of the guiding practices that make for a good manager:
Delegate - It’s ok to delegate tasks. In fact, your staff wants you to delegate. They want to grow both professionally and personally; it also affords them the opportunity to shine. You can’t do everything – even if you could, why would you want to? Give someone else the chance to develop and possibly obtain a promotion. If they look good, so do you.
Ask, Don’t Tell - Want something done? A good way to generate support and promote a happy team is to ask people to do things. Giving orders promotes resentment. “Who does he think he is, anyway?” they will think. Do you want to be the subject of mean jokes? No? I am not saying that the playing field is completely equal, but if you present a nice green turf, your staff will want to help you maintain it. Otherwise you might find yourself in the middle of a revolt. After all, they do say “You get more with honey than you do with vinegar.” Who are ‘they’? I don’t know, but they knew something.
Demonstrate Thanks - One of your staff do something really great? Reference it. Promote their efforts in a group setting. Give credit where credit is due. Know anyone in management that has taken credit for something one of her direct reports did? In addition to being an unsavory character, eventually this type of manager will get what’s coming to her. You are only as good as the people that work for you. Promote them, and you too will reap the benefits.
Promote the strengths of your staff - Don’t neglect to remember that all people, though created equal are very different. The strengths of one might not be the same for the rest. It is important to recognize that people do different things well. While encouraging staff to improve in areas where there is need for improvement, it is also important to recognize individual strengths and promote them accordingly. When all of the pieces of the puzzle are formed, it will be a highly productive and happy unit that delivers success – TOGETHER.
Admission not Omission - To err is human. Even managers make mistakes. It’s ok to admit it, correct it, and move on. Promote an environment where information can be shared and errors discussed so that positive and productive changes can be made; the entire team will benefit and together you will grow.
Remember, organizations need managers, good ones, to get through the tough times - they need staff to be energized, diligent and focused and good managers bring out the best in their teams - good times and bad.
Comments and feedback are requested and desired; and you are welcome and encouraged to submit questions to thecareerdoctor.
Debra Wheatman, CPRW, CPCC is the founder and Chief Career Strategist of ResumesDoneWrite, a premier career services provider focused on developing highly personalized career roadmaps for senior leaders and executives across all verticals and industries.
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