Whatever level of management you are in, you can always be a better manager – and learning how to do so is one of those things that can be a lot easier than you might imagine. The truth is, if you are keen to become a better manager, there are a number of approaches you might want to take. In this article, we are going to take a look at some of the best ways to do this. If you follow some of these, you should find that you are a much better manager in no time.
If there is one thing that your employees and the people below you need from you, it is a good sense of consistency. The more consistent you are in your behaviors and practice as a manager, the more easily people will be able to trust you. If there is a distinct lack of consistency, that can be the result of a number of issues. It might be for instance that there are not actually set processes for you to follow, so in that case you would first need to set those up. The more consistent you can prove to be, the better.
1.Learn More About Your Field
A good manager should always be as knowledgeable as possible about the field that they are working in. If you are not fully aware of all of the issues that you need to think about in your field, then this is something that you might want to work on. There are many ways to do that, from taking an online doctorate degree to spending more time with other experts in your field. But however you do it, the important thing is that you are learning all there is to learn about your field as soon as possible.
2.Motivate Your Team
Being able to motivate your team is one of the skills that matters most as a manager. The more that you can motivate them, the more likely it is that you are going to get a lot out of them each and every day, so you should try to do this as best as you can and at all times. You will discern different ways of motivating people depending on their individual personalities, so it’s the kind of process that needs to be reactive in this way. But overall, you can motivate teams by reminding them of the common cause they are working towards.
3.Being A Mentor
Finally, you should try to be a mentor as much as a manager, as both of these are quite important in terms of how you aim to get the most out of your team members. The difference is that as a mentor you are helping to build people up as best as you can, and in the process you are going to be improving them as individuals as well as improving the team as a whole. If you can get that right, you are going to get so much more out of it.
4.Improve Your Communication Skills
If you want to be respected and taken seriously by your team, you must improve your communication skills. Remember that there is no substitute for effective communication when it comes to becoming a better manager.
It all comes down to how you communicate, whether you’re handing over a task, giving feedback, or managing a difficult situation in the team. If there is a problem, your tone should be helpful, motivating, and assist in resolving it.
While you may have difficult days where achieving targets and generating numbers is all you can think about, you must effectively share the goals and assist your employees in achieving them. And don’t forget to be kind while you’re in it.
5.Appreciate Your Teams’ Efforts
When it comes to become a better manager, appreciation is the key to complete success. It is not only your responsibility as a leader to ensure that your team completes the task. But it is also important that they are recognized for their efforts.
Employees’ efforts often go unnoticed, especially when they work in a large group. Not every employee may be the one to prepare presentations or polish up the end, where the majority of the efforts are recognized.
Some may even be putting up the missing piece at the beginning of a job, resulting in its success. When you know who is contributing what, you must recognize and thank them for their efforts. This sends a positive message and makes them feel valued.
6.Ask For Feedback
It is just as important to receive honest feedback as it is to give it. If you want to become a better manager, you must honest feedback from your employees on your performance. Create an open and honest communication culture.
Try anonymous forms and surveys to help you better understand your role and how you can improve it.
7.Set SMART goals
Setting goals for yourself and your team is an essential part to become a better manager. Use the SMART method when setting goals:
If there is one thing that your employees and the people below you need from you, it is a good sense of consistency. The more consistent you are in your behaviors and practice as a manager, the more easily people will be able to trust you. If there is a distinct lack of consistency, that can be the result of a number of issues. It might be for instance that there are not actually set processes for you to follow, so in that case you would first need to set those up. The more consistent you can prove to be, the better.
1.Learn More About Your Field
A good manager should always be as knowledgeable as possible about the field that they are working in. If you are not fully aware of all of the issues that you need to think about in your field, then this is something that you might want to work on. There are many ways to do that, from taking an online doctorate degree to spending more time with other experts in your field. But however you do it, the important thing is that you are learning all there is to learn about your field as soon as possible.
2.Motivate Your Team
Being able to motivate your team is one of the skills that matters most as a manager. The more that you can motivate them, the more likely it is that you are going to get a lot out of them each and every day, so you should try to do this as best as you can and at all times. You will discern different ways of motivating people depending on their individual personalities, so it’s the kind of process that needs to be reactive in this way. But overall, you can motivate teams by reminding them of the common cause they are working towards.
3.Being A Mentor
Finally, you should try to be a mentor as much as a manager, as both of these are quite important in terms of how you aim to get the most out of your team members. The difference is that as a mentor you are helping to build people up as best as you can, and in the process you are going to be improving them as individuals as well as improving the team as a whole. If you can get that right, you are going to get so much more out of it.
4.Improve Your Communication Skills
If you want to be respected and taken seriously by your team, you must improve your communication skills. Remember that there is no substitute for effective communication when it comes to becoming a better manager.
It all comes down to how you communicate, whether you’re handing over a task, giving feedback, or managing a difficult situation in the team. If there is a problem, your tone should be helpful, motivating, and assist in resolving it.
While you may have difficult days where achieving targets and generating numbers is all you can think about, you must effectively share the goals and assist your employees in achieving them. And don’t forget to be kind while you’re in it.
5.Appreciate Your Teams’ Efforts
When it comes to become a better manager, appreciation is the key to complete success. It is not only your responsibility as a leader to ensure that your team completes the task. But it is also important that they are recognized for their efforts.
Employees’ efforts often go unnoticed, especially when they work in a large group. Not every employee may be the one to prepare presentations or polish up the end, where the majority of the efforts are recognized.
Some may even be putting up the missing piece at the beginning of a job, resulting in its success. When you know who is contributing what, you must recognize and thank them for their efforts. This sends a positive message and makes them feel valued.
6.Ask For Feedback
It is just as important to receive honest feedback as it is to give it. If you want to become a better manager, you must honest feedback from your employees on your performance. Create an open and honest communication culture.
Try anonymous forms and surveys to help you better understand your role and how you can improve it.
7.Set SMART goals
Setting goals for yourself and your team is an essential part to become a better manager. Use the SMART method when setting goals:
- Specific: Choose a narrow goal for more effective planning.
- Measurable: Identify what metrics you’ll use to evaluate your progress.
- Attainable: Make sure your goal is realistic.
- Relevant: Your goal should be focused on your department’s values and expectations.
- Time-bound: Set an end date that can help you prioritize this goal.
8.Practice Ethical Management
When a manager uses honesty and virtuosity to better their performance and collaboration with others, they are practicing ethical management. Management training can help you achieve this. To become an ethical manager, you must lead by example, treat everyone equally, and be clear about your expectations. Your team members will be more likely to report unethical behavior if you try to be ethical.
Bottom Line
To become a better manager is a personal and professional growth exercise. You may build the capabilities needed to bring out the best in yourself and others, as well as help your company succeed, by learning how to change organizational processes to your advantage.
When a manager uses honesty and virtuosity to better their performance and collaboration with others, they are practicing ethical management. Management training can help you achieve this. To become an ethical manager, you must lead by example, treat everyone equally, and be clear about your expectations. Your team members will be more likely to report unethical behavior if you try to be ethical.
Bottom Line
To become a better manager is a personal and professional growth exercise. You may build the capabilities needed to bring out the best in yourself and others, as well as help your company succeed, by learning how to change organizational processes to your advantage.