Ineffective managers can have a negative effect on a
business. Their actions and attitude towards their team will influence and
effect the way that each individual operates and the focus must be on how to
achieve results and motivate the team working with you.
1) Be proactive
Many managers take a reactive approach to
dealing with issues and will leave situations until boiling point before taking
action to resolve a matter. An effective manager will be able to identify when
tensions are rising and often intervening at any early stage can defuse a
situation and allow you to take control.
2) Acknowledge the positive
Make sure that you see the positives in
your staff and their work. By only focusing on the negative aspects of each
individual, you risk demoralising people and decreasing their productivity. I’m
sure you have heard the term ‘positivity breeds positivity’, and you may be
surprised how far genuine and meaningful praise can go. Obviously things don’t
always go right or according to plan during the working day, but by giving
clear instruction and praise when things are put right, your team will be
encouraged and remain motivated to complete their tasks. Adopt an approach which is focussed on continuous
learning, particularly if mistakes or errors are made. It is fine for managers to hold others to
account for the work they produce, this can help to create the right
performance culture based on high quality and achieving good business outcomes.
3) Lead by example
If you want your team to behave in a certain way, then lead
by example. It’s not fair to expect your employees to do something if you are
not doing this yourself. It is important
to model good effective behaviour to staff.
Anyone in a management role knows that they are constantly in the spotlight
and other team members will look for your lead, particularly during periods of
significant challenge or adversity. Many
managers find it helpful to ‘walk the floor’ by being close to the front end
operations of the business, seeking feedback from those at the sharp end who
are delivering services or providing products for the end consumer.
4) Select the best people
A manager is only as good as the team around them. Give
yourself a better chance to succeed by carefully selecting the right people for
the job when recruiting, having a positive induction process to ensure the new
employee is up to speed quickly and effectively performance managing the team
that you inherit so they have a clear understanding of what is expected of
them. If any individuals are under
performing, adopt a fair and consistent approach in line with your internal
policies to encourage and support improvement.
5) Communicate
Communication may be the most important aspect of effective
management. Without effective communication, you can’t motivate or lead your
team and they won’t understand the goal that you are working towards. Your team
will depend on your communication so it’s worth investing the time to ensure
that this is being achieved. Effective communication comes with practice, so
keep at it and you will find the best method that works for you and your team. Team engagement should be a regular two way
process, enabling all staff to feel valued and make a contribution towards team
success. Consider if your staff
engagement processes are working effectively in the minds of those you are
managing.
6) Improve yourself
Ensure that you make time to reflect on your own development
needs yourself. If you focus too much on the development of your team and
forget about yourself, people will not feel like they are able to progress
working under you. Keep your own development plan interesting and varied and
take advice from those who can share the necessary knowledge to help you
succeed. Identify areas in which you need
to develop and work to improve them to keep yourself motivated and ahead of the
game.
7) Take a break
Excessive amounts of stress means you are likely to less
effective as a manager. Give yourself a chance to relax and recharge your
batteries, so that you can remain sharp and keep the momentum of your
productivity. It’s a fact that you are likely to be less tolerant when
stressed, so ensure that you make the time to have a good work-life balance. Think about your own health and wellbeing, as
well as that of your team. Businesses
that adopt a supportive and positive approach to proactive wellbeing are likely
to have less stress related absence, lower staff turnover and higher levels of
productivity and output.
If you would like to discuss how your business
can develop its approach to leadership and management, please don’t hesitate to
contact one of the team here at Tamar HR.
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