They say a good player is made by a good coach. The same is true of business: a good manager can build a better team. It can be daunting, but if you adopt a couple specific management techniques, the result will be better for you, your team and your company. When it comes to operational effectiveness, it is the daily habits that make the most long-lasting impacts. Here are a couple quick tips for managerial effectiveness:
Listen carefully—Pay attention every day to your employees’ lives. When you’re invested in their life, you become a trusted leader and you’re able to make better decisions. If you know that one of your employees is going through a divorce, perhaps ask another employee to help with their workload. This will minimize stress and your employee will recognize your thoughtfulness.
Be a mentor—Look for learning opportunities for employees. A mentorship can benefit you and your mentee. Make sure you verbalize that you’d like to have lunch with your employees or invite them to a business-related seminar. Is there an intern that joined the company? See if they’re interested in talking about their professional future.
Expect excellence—Keep the fine line between being a friend and a manager by expecting quality work. Set high but attainable standards that each employee can strive to achieve. Be authoritative in your expectations. But, always be available to help your employees learn how to achieve those expectations.
