The Top 10 Things that Make a Good Manager
Category: Management, Staff Development, Projects, Delegation, Leadership (AE186)Originally Submitted on 10/30/99.
How to become the boss everyone loves to praise, rather than the boss everyone loves to hate!
1. Acknowledge your staff.
When a member of staff does a job well, make sure you notice it, and acknowledge her or him for it. Don't let the opportunity to praise a piece of good work go by.
2. Never, ever, humiliate anyone on your staff team.
If you are annoyed with someone on your team, or they have done something wrong, make sure you keep your cool, especially in public. If you humiliate someone, he or she will hold a grudge against you, and their work will suffer too.
3. Create a culture where mistakes are OK.
If you don't make mistakes, chances are you are not stretching yourself. If your staff are allowed to feel that mistakes are part of reaching for new highs, rather than something to feel bad about, or shamed for, then they will take more risks on your behalf.
4. Remember personal details.
Take time to get to know your staff, who they are, who is important in their lives, etc. Be interested in them as people, not just as workers.
5. Don't hide behind your position.
Be human and friendly with your staff - that way you will all be able to support and encourage each other when things are tough.
6. Be approachable.
Allow your staff to feel that they can come and talk to you about sensitive issues, about inside- and outside-work difficulties, and that you will respect them, and not hold what they share against them.
7. Admit your mistakes.
If you get it wrong, say so. Managers don't have to be infallible! Your staff will respect you more if you are able to admit your mistakes, and then set about sorting out a solution.
8. Listen in such a way that your employees will talk to you.
Often people feel afraid of, or intimidated by, management. Make sure you show people that you are willing to listen to what they have to say, that they are important and worthy of your time.
9. Be clear in your requests.
It is your responsibility to ensure that people understand your requests - so communicate clearly, and ask if people have understood what you are asking for.
10. Treat everyone respectfully and courteously at all times.
Particularly when there is a problem! Everyone who works for you is a valuable human being who deserves respect. A manager is only as good as how she or he treats the people on her or his team.
About the Submitter
This piece was originally submitted by Aboodi Shabi, PCC, Professional Coach, who can be reached at aboodi@newfieldnetwork.com, or visited on the web. Aboodi Shabi wants you to know: I am Manager of European Public Programming for Newfield Network. I work with individuals and groups for business and personal success.
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