Managing staff is much more of an art than a science. There is no secret formula or set of rules to follow. Like any type of art, it takes a personal style and relentless commitment to develop such art.
Steps
Step 1. Erase the word "manager" from your mind and replace it with the word "leader
Leaders don't require titles or promotions; they are inspiring and motivating people no matter the setting or the team.
Step 2. Keep a good sense of humor
It makes you approachable and helps you keep perspective. Don't take yourself too seriously. Everyone takes their time.
Step 3. Remember that your direct reports are people
They are not resources and they are not human capital. They are people with families, feelings, and problems. It is not possible to separate work from life at home. Know that people have personal lives and do your best to be sensitive to them. Treat everyone as your equal regardless of their titles or positions. Remember to smile a lot and always maintain a pleasant demeanor.
Step 4. Know your strengths and weaknesses
Know your team's strengths, as well as their weaknesses, and allow room for improvement.
Step 5. Have a specific plan of what needs to be done
"By failing to plan, you plan to fail." Set short-term and long-term goals.
Step 6. Be determined
When you are asked for your opinion, you should have it well thought out and present it in a persuasive way. You should not ramble or stop. For big decisions, set an expiration date and have your decision on that date. If someone offers you an argument that convinces you to change your mind, acknowledge it and embrace the new idea completely.
Step 7. Communicate your expectations
Put them in writing whenever possible. Ask for feedback from the people you are managing. Know what they expect of you. Address any discrepancies immediately and clearly.
Step 8. Keep in mind a clear understanding of the things you can and cannot change
Just accept the things you cannot change and do not devote your energies to them. Then focus all your efforts on the things that you can change. You are always looking for people who are action-oriented and successful.
Step 9. Remember that different things motivate different people and that they will do what there is an incentive for
It's your job to make sure their incentives go according to their goals. For example, if you pay a bonus to people who produce a greater number of pieces, don't be surprised if quality starts to decline in favor of volume.
Step 10. Maintain the trust of everyone in the organization
Managers often have access to more information than other employees. It is imperative that you never betray the trust of the company, your boss, your colleagues and your employees. Make sure people can trust you.
Step 11. Be consistent
Your actions and reactions must be consistent. You don't want to be the type of manager to have everyone wonder what mood you're in before approaching you with an issue.
Step 12. Being flexible is very important and does not conflict with being consistent
You must remain flexible to change directions, rules, and resources to stay competitive.
Step 13. Focus on the solutions and not the problems
People gravitate toward solution-oriented individuals.
Step 14. Hire slowly and fire quickly
Take your time to hire good quality people. Have a few people do the interviews and do a thorough background check. But when you have some unruly employees, take steps to get rid of them as soon as possible.
Advice
- When you confront someone, be sure to focus only on their actions. Typically, when someone is confronted, they react as if it were something personal. Focusing on an inappropriate action will help keep the conversation more professional.
- Don't be afraid to fail. Every time you or other people fail it only means that you have discovered something that does not work. It means that you are one step closer to making something work.
- Address matters directly. Don't become a policy manager. This happens when you have one person on your team who sends more personal emails than work emails, so you can create a department policy that computers cannot be used for personal electronic correspondence. Everyone is punished for the abuse of a single person. Instead, address the matter directly with the person who is abusing their privilege. Let him know that he is abusing his privileges and that if he does not stop immediately, disciplinary action will be taken.
- Always remember the rules of setting goals. Goals need to be E. M. A. R. O. E. R. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Real, Timely, Ethical and Relevant.
- Never tell someone that something is impossible. Anything is possible if given enough time and resources. You should always answer: "These things would have to happen and it will take so long like that and it will cost so much like that."
Warnings
- Remember that you will never control staff or events. In fact, the only thing in life that you control is your own actions. Use your actions to motivate and inspire. Don't waste your time trying to control people. It cannot be done.
- Realizing that people have a personal life does not mean that you can get involved in their life. Focus on your business relationship while keeping in mind that people have a personal life to tend to. Avoid giving advice on personal and relationship matters.
- Don't be afraid to admit you were wrong. Everybody makes mistakes. In the long run, you will, too. When you do, admit it and learn. Making mistakes is acceptable. Repeating them is not.