Managers aren’t only responsible for an organization’s fiscal assets, they’re also responsible for its human assets. According to a recent Adecco report, here are 13 simple ideas you can implement today to become a more effective manager:
1. Recognize a job well-done
Everyone likes to know when they’ve done something well. Make your employees feel important every day. Show enthusiasm for their work.
2. Encourage staff to take risks
Give them enough freedom to take prudent risks. You will find employees at all levels come up with good ideas.
3. Always be honest
Let employees know you trust them, and be honest and open in return. Just one deception can destroy your credibility for good. A recent Gallup Poll found that one in five workers say their bosses don’t treat their employees fairly.
4. Offer a challenge
Productivity and enthusiasm significantly decrease with boredom. A survey by the American Productivity & Quality Center found that the best motivator for employees is challenging work. Your challenge is to keep them challenged.
5. Realize that money isn’t everything
Studies show that money isn’t the only motivator for employees. In fact, most studies show that employees choose factors like recognition for a good job, personal development and challenging work as being more important than salary. So if you want to keep employees, a pat on the back can be just as effective as additional pay.
6. Be a straight shooter
Don’t set foggy goals for your employees. People want to know what you expect of them. Give directions to employees in simple language. Tell them precisely what is involved and why you think they’re best for the job.
7. Know when, where to criticize
Inform employees when they perform well and when they don’t. Tell them immediately. Don’t lump all your complaints in one session.
Don’t criticize employees in front of others. Highlighting failures in public will discourage innovation by everyone involved, and you will quickly turn colleagues into enemies.
8. Keep communication lines open
Employees crave clear, ongoing, understandable and unambiguous communication. Don’t communicate just in times of trouble. Relay positive news as well. Give employees information before, not after, important events.
9. Make employees feel important
The need to feel needed—everyone has it.
One study found that more than half of the employees surveyed felt their managers failed to make them feel important as individuals. And 77% of those employees also said they were thinking of looking for another job.
Allow employees to contribute. Ask for their opinions and advice. Reduce the number of autocratic decisions.
10. Be consistent
Workers can learn to live with any boss if they know what to expect. If you keep them guessing, you will keep them looking … for another job. Inconsistent behavior breeds anger, frustration, dismay and disappointment.
11. Be impartial
Don’t play favorites. Discrimination destroys morale, hurts productivity and opens the door to lawsuits. Bosses
who promote unfairly will quickly lose employees’ confidence in them. Treat everyone the same, politely.
12. Take an interest in employees’ careers
Coach or counsel employees on how they can climb the corporate ladder. Become a mentor to employees with real potential and fire.
13. Know how to say “no”
There will be plenty of times that you can’t be Mr./Ms. Nice Guy. You have to say no. How? Just do it.
Explain the reason for your refusal so you don’t seem unreasonable. Avoid making a snap decision unless time constraints force your hand. If possible, tell the employee that you will consider the request and decide in a day or two. Take enough time to let the employee know that the request has had a fair hearing.
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