Managing
people is a tricky job, even for the most skilled business school grads and
experienced professionals. Being a
manager is more than just delegating tasks and supervising employees; it means
you are accountable to both your boss and your staff.
Here
are a few tips for managers:
1. Delegate work according to skill level
and capability
As a
manager your staff is there to help you achieve your goals as a department,
section, or even organization. Being in charge is doesn’t give you the right to
palm off tasks you don’t enjoy on your staff. You must delegate work according
to your staff’s skill level and capabilities. Each member of your staff is
unique and has different strengths and weaknesses; it is your job to recognize their strengths. You
need to get to know your staff and their capacities in the workplace. Remember
to be fair in your delegation, resist the urge to pile work on your strongest
staff members and delegate easier tasks to those who might be struggling. Make
sure everyone has a fair share of responsibilities within their assigned roles.
2. Hold weekly meetings
Weekly
meetings are a common practice in most workplaces as it gives co-workers and
managers alike a chance to discuss progress, plan the coming week, and initiate
new tasks. Make sure you get status updates on the work you’ve delegated and
ensure the participation of all your employees in weekly meetings. This will allow you to assess how employees are
dealing with the workload and determine where changes need to be made.
3. Schedule open door time
The
“Open door” policy isn’t always the best approach to increase productivity. As
a manager you may need time alone in your office to work, brainstorm, meet
tight deadlines, and sort out your thoughts. However, your employees will have
questions and concerns to discuss with you, designating a time when you will be
available to address these concerns is a great way of showing your concern and approachability.
It’s a good idea to schedule “open door time” every day or at
least
3 times a week; this way employees know they can talk to you about their
concerns. This practice is often adopted
in academia where professors have “Office Hours” within which students can meet
them to discuss grades, assignments etc.
4. Exercise open and effective
communication
Open
communication is the key to effective management. Managers are often the bearers
of good and bad news. When relaying
messages from the higher echelons of your organization make sure you share
information equally. Inform all employees at the same time. Some managers feel that they should only share
information with certain employees who they determine “need to know it” or for
whom it is “relevant”. However this scenario often results in closed door
meetings between the manager and just a few staff members, leaving other
employees feeling left out, suspicious and anxious. Engaging in closed door meetings of this sort
is highly discouraged as it promotes division and suspicion. Of course some
information needs to remain confidential but managers must be discrete about
how they go about disclosing information to staff .
5. Keep it professional
The
office is a great place to network and make new friends, but it’s important to
keep it professional. You may be closer to certain members of your staff than
others but attempt to maintain the same level of interaction with all
employees. Avoid going out to lunch with the same staff members every week or sitting
next to the same people at meetings. This makes others feel like you’re playing
favourites and will result in jealousy, competition, and workplace conflict as
everyone wants to be close to “the boss”.
You can engage in conversations with employees outside of working hours
but remember to keep your composure. Be
polite and keep it professional, don’t get too personal.
6. Introduce team building initiatives
Initiating
team building activities is a good way to foster a collectivist environment
within your department and make employees feel included and welcome.
Introducing office outings such as a lunch out of the office will allow you to
connect with your staff in a new environment and boost morale within the
department. If going out is not feasible, organizing a department potluck or
simply celebrating employee birthdays with a cake or dessert is a great way to
promote interaction. A collectivist environment is always better than an
individualistic environment within a department or office. Managers need to
make sure employees are team players working toward a common goal.
Copyright © 2013 by Professional Edge Consulting
Copyright © 2013 by Professional Edge Consulting
