Whether you are just starting out as a manager or you have been one for years, it is important to know that it is not always (or even rarely) easy. You are in charge of many employees trying to run a successful business. You want to be well-liked and fair, though there are going to be times when you have to put your foot down and be stern.
Here are some tips to be a good manager.
Think about managers that you enjoyed working for and also those that you did not. What qualities did you like about the ones? Which drove you crazy about the others?
Really think about the behaviors that you want to have, as well as those that you want to avoid at all costs. Did you like how someone treated you as an employee? What did he or she do to make you feel valued? What about the ones that you didn't like? How did they treat you that made you want to quit?
Listen to your employees. A good manager asks for feedback and listens to the needs of their employees. If they feel like you are doing something wrong or treating them unfairly, it is better to find out now and make the necessary changes before you lose your employees.
For this reason, make sure that your employees know that you are there for them and willing to listen. If they do give you feedback, make sure that you make the changes necessary to keep your staff happy.
At the same time, you should be able to give feedback to your employees. Instead of always barking orders at a person, it is important to keep the lines of communication open. Make sure that you talk to your employees when something is not working. Work with them to make the changes necessary to improve the situation.
If they are struggling with any part of their job, coach them through it so that they will be able to do it better next time. Well-trained employees are an asset to the company, not a bother.
Allow others to help. Too many managers feel like they have to do everything. This leads to a lot of unnecessary stress. You hired your team for a reason so it is time to let them handle their part. Once you start trusting your employees, you will be a better manager. You may even notice happier employees because you are letting them do their thing!
Encourage your team. Everyone on your team brings something to the table. Some people are creative. Others are problem solvers, while there are also ones who prefer to be told what to do. By allowing your team to work how they work best, everything will move smoothly.
When you are first starting out, you should really think about previous managers that you have worked with. This gives you a great place to start as you begin a career in management. You can decide which characteristics that are important to you and which ones you don't ever want to see yourself doing.
It is also important to keep the lines of communication open. Whether your employee is struggling or you need to do something differently, it is important that everyone is able to talk through their problems (before you lose a valued employee). Then, give up control. Your employees are great. They are more than capable of doing their job so it is your job to let them!
Remember how you felt about your favorite managers? Don't you want to be seen as a good one too? By working hard and keeping communication open, your work can operate smoothly.