Twelve Tips for Becoming a Successful Manager
1. Don’t try to be someone you are not.
The temptation is to emulate the previous manager. This is bad news as
you are not the previous manager, you are you.
Think about managers you have enjoyed working for and identify what it was they did that gave you that feeling. Also, think about managers you have not enjoyed working for and identify what it was they did that gave you that
feeling. These two activities will give you a framework from which to
start your management career.
2. Start as you mean to go on.
Set clear standards and then model them – always. People respond
positively to certainty as they generally don’t like surprises.
Everyone needs to know what is expected of them and clear standards
will help them understand that this is the way we are going to do
things around here. It doesn’t have to be dictatorial either. Why not
ask your team to put together their ideas on what the standards should
be and then agree them with you. That way they have the ownership so
you don’t need to motivate them to live by the standards.
3. Share your department’s objectives with your staff and then ask
them how they can help you achieve them.
People respond to being given responsibility. OK you always get one or
two people who moan and groan about you abdicating your
responsibilities to them. Get rid of these people as they will be
trying to infect the team against you. Being decisive like this will
impress your team and show them that you care about your
responsibilities and about them as people.
4. Hold regular team reviews to ensure everyone is clear about what is
expected of them.
You can do this both as a team and more regularly as individuals. Once
a month on an individual basis is a good way to work. Talk to each
person about what they are working towards and the resources they have
to do it with. Give them feedback about how they are performing (good
and developmental feedback) and agree what you can do to help them in
the following month.
5. Initiate new rituals for the team.
Or better still get them to come up with them. Rituals are important
as they confirm to the team members that they each belong to
something. This is a motivator in it’s own right. Such rituals might
include regular social events, team building days and team meetings.
http://www.thedevco.com/management-skills-training-tips.htm
Being a good manager is about earning respect from being seen to be
fair, trustworthy and approachable.
©Copyright Adrian Green.