Bosses, managers, to even leaders around the world in different industries always want to proliferate their ways to further improve themselves on managing their people in the best way possible. There are a variety of approaches used by different managers when trying to handle their employees but at the end of the day the question that will always linger and remain will be “Was this an effective way to manage and handle my people?”.
Effectivity comes into question and further entails managers to even do a better job. How good or bad an employee is doing at the workplace becomes a big reflection on how capable and what potential the manager has to offer the organization. It becomes a very significant thing to consider that managers must do their best to expand their employees’ horizons and further boost their productivity in the most efficient and effective way possible.
Managing people in the workplace will never be an easy task, you might even consider it as a very formidable challenge. Being a good HR manager takes some serious skill and actual talent. Most people are very stereotypical and get the wrong idea that managerial positions are just a breeze as all they do is likely supervise, watch and tell their people what to do. It is a very common misconception for some people to think that way, but HR professionals and real managers in the industry know that it is not simply the case and that it is a very laborious job to be in.
As the name implies managers manage, but that’s not as easy as it sounds and actually there’s still a lot of things going on behind the scenes of the very known and proud title. Managers control and basically acts as the leader of an entire team, they take charge, inspire, create opportunities for employees to maximize their talents, and guides the team to success in projects and endeavors that come in the workplace.
Before being able to climb up the ladder to be in the managerial position, managers were once below the hierarchy as members of the group as well and had other managers guide and look after them too.
So, in hindsight, managers already have an idea how much a manager can influence each individual in the team and have an insight on how to live up to the expectation and even maybe ever surpass how they were managed before. It is basically a learning process wherein the student was able to surpass the master.
With all of the explanations and theories stated, there are several ways for you to think about when wanting to manage employees more effectively.
Maintain Good Communication
Managers who create opportunities for good communication to foster in the workplace are the ones who are able to manage and control the team better.
Communication is key. As the manager and leader of a group, you should promote communication within the team. Being a manager does not necessarily mean that you should just keep talking and ordering members around blocking feedback from any members that tries to relay their opinions any chance you get, that’s a big mistake from the managers part.
Communication as we know it is a two-way process, there needs to be an exchange of ideas and information between the two parties. Managers must always go back to the basics and remember that they should allocate time for listening and talking. For the most part, it will open your eyes to blind spots and misfits in the projects that you might have missed.
Good communication between the manager and the members of the team minimizes conflicts and helps each and everyone understand what is meant and what is intended within the order.
“It’s about communication. It’s about honesty. It’s about treating people in the organization as deserving to know the facts. You don’t try to give them half the story. You don’t try to hide the story. You treat them as true equals, and you communicate and you communicate and communicate. “- Louis V. Gerstner, Jr.
Acknowledge Good Work
Never forget that your team is still people too and they need to feel that they are truly appreciated and loved, especially after a strenuous but worth it project you all worked hard for. Make them feel like they all played a gigantic part in the project’s success. When one of your employees stands out and really puts in the effort constantly, think about asking the higher-ups to give him the right incentives or even a promotion when they truly deserve it.
One of the factors that you might consider managing your employees better is making them feel that they are an asset and an important person to the organization. Acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged, your people will be able to aim higher and improve themselves when the manager learns to appreciate and give credit to where it is due.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” – Melody Beattie
Delegating Jobs to the Right People
Every individual in your team plays different roles and are equipped with diverse skill sets. Too truly be a good manager and manage your employees better, you need to utilize what their capabilities are and use it at the best of your advantage.
Managers need to know how to properly delegate tasks to employees. They should know what each person can do and what type of work they best excel at. If a manager knows what skills and what kind of potential each individual has then he or she can easily delegate tasks to the team with ease.
Employees that are part of the team usually get more engaged, show better results, and creates a large productive impact when given a task that is in the level of their expertise.
“If you want to do a few small things right, do them yourself. If you want to do great things and make a big impact, learn to delegate.” – John C. Maxwell, American author
To lead and manage your people in a better perspective, you need to maintain and build a good work relationship with them. Establishing bonds with each and every member of your team helps create a more positive vibe with each other. Most people do better jobs if they feel comfortable and holds no grudges or negative emotions towards their leader or colleague.
“You will become like the five people you associate with the most. This can be either a blessing or a curse.”
-Billy Cox
