Mastering Management: 5 Simple Steps to Lead Like a Pro
Management is more than just a pretty job title; it plays a crucial role in the success of individuals, teams, and ultimately the business.
But what makes a good manager, and how do you achieve management success? Practical experience is always a winning strategy, or you may benefit from completing some business courses to build up your management skills. In the meantime, though, read our guide to discover five simple starting steps to becoming a successful manager.
Get to know your team.
People will react to certain ways of working differently. Getting to know your team more intimately not only builds trust and understanding, but it also opens up conversation on how to work with each team member effectively, and provides understanding of what their strengths and weaknesses may be.
Some things you may want to discover include:
- How do they prefer to work? Do they like collaboration or independence? Do they want daily or weekly check-ins?
- What are their skills and strengths, and do they have any weaknesses they want to work on?
- How do they prefer to communicate?
- What are their career goals 12 months, two years, and five years from now?
- What are their interests and passions at work?
- What motivates them?
Establish good communication.
Many times, problems that arise during project delivery come from communication errors, rather than performance issues. Establishing good communication with your team members from the get-go can help avoid this from happening, and it can also help build trust between you and your employees, meaning they are more likely to come to you if they are experiencing issues before it escalates.
Communication is also about learning to listen to your employees. Actively listening is a skill that requires patience and practice, and can help improve communication, boost collaboration, foster trust, and build a deeper connection with your team members.
Show appreciation.
It is unfortunate, but managers can sometimes forget that employees are individuals with unique personalities and motivations, and the pivotal role they have in making that individual feel engaged, recognised, and appreciated.
The Reward Gateway Workplace Engagement Index report highlights this very idea, where two of the top five drivers of appreciation are related to an employee’s manager. “I am recognised by managers” and “My managers support me” ranked at number one and four respectively, while “My hard work is rewarded”, “I feel I belong here”, and “My organisation praises me” round out the list.
Recognition and appreciation are important, as employees who feel valued are more likely to feel a sense of purpose and satisfaction with their work, resulting in greater productivity, collaboration, and contribution to a company’s vision.
Managers can show appreciation through a variety of means, including handwritten or personalised notes or gifts, celebrating milestones or career growth opportunities, nominating an employee for company-wide awards, verbal appreciation, or creating a team culture that actively provides positive feedback and an appreciative environment.
Hold yourself accountable.
Your team members are not perfect, and there will be mistakes made along the way.
While they will need to reflect on their work, managers are ultimately responsible for all output from their team, so the buck and accountability for any missteps that occur stop with them.
Learning to take responsibility for all work, especially if you weren’t the one who created or completed it, can be challenging, but it is an important skill to develop.
Taking accountability for your team’s errors also provides you with the opportunity to help your team learn from their mistakes. This can help continue to build trust and create an environment where problems can be solved together.
Know when employees need to be pushed, and when they are overworked.
In every business, some employees need a nudge to stay motivated, and employees who need to slow down before they burn out. Understanding when a team member needs a gentle push to hit certain goals, KPIs, or OKRs, or to increase motivation and engagement, is important to ensure productivity.
It is equally important, though, to recognise the signs and know when someone is about to burnout due to stress or overworking. A manager’s role is to understand and navigate both aspects of this effectively and efficiently, to ensure the best outcome for both the business and the team member.
The results will speak for themselves.
Finding the right management techniques for you and your team may take time, but it is well worth the effort as it will yield better employee engagement, greater productivity, and an overall happier and safer work environment for all.
Consider getting to know your team, setting up great communication channels, showing appreciation and accountability, and knowing how to drive your employees to achieve their best as your first steps towards successful management, while understanding it is a continuous learning journey you will always need to work on.
