Three Simple Tips to be a More Effective Manager

Managers play a valuable role in the productivity and retention of their teams. It isn’t always easy to manage a team, especially now that many managers are tasked to lead remote or hybrid teams. A manager's role often includes being responsible for your workload and inspiring, leading, and motivating your team to accomplish goals for your organization. According to a study from SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), 84% of U.S workers claim that poorly trained managers cause a lot of unnecessary work and stress. 

Here are a few simple tips to be a more effective manager at your organization.

#1 Consistent Communication

If you feel that you are often playing “got you” or the blame game with your staff, it makes people feel beaten down and have emotional responses due to stress. I encourage you to identify the facts and work on approaching the situation by offering guidance and constructive feedback. Instead of responding to staff with an emotional response.
I suggest starting conversations around, “How can I help you do this differently this time?” instead of “Why didn’t you do it like this?” The truth is, if you're a leader, it's your job to make your team's job more efficient. In most cases, you are managing the true revenue generators at the company. Your role is to support and motivate your staff, so that you work together as a team, toward your organizational goals.
I tell my folks all the time, “I want you to enjoy your job and love what you're doing.” Remember to ask your team how you can support them, create a more efficient work environment, and encourage individual growth.

#2 Retraining and Coaching

If you need to have a conversation with an employee about how they are struggling in their role. Make time to address how you can support them, help them learn, and gain the tools they need to succeed. One way to empathically start the conversation with an employee is to say, “Can we discuss what's not working for you?” Communicating with compassion builds trust. Employees will feel more comfortable having a tough conversation when they know you have their best interest in mind and are coaching them to grow their skill set and level of understanding. Sometimes it's important to go back to the basics and walk an employee back through some initial training, especially if you have organized a new training process. This exercise can help identify where there is room for improvement. Employees feel valued and respected when their managers can provide honest and valued feedback. Giving both positive and constructive feedback will help your staff master their work environment.

#3 Relate to your team

Be personable. A way that we build trust within our team is to get together both in person or virtually and have a conversation. Find out what your staff is passionate about. Encourage your staff to interact and relate to each other. This interaction will help build a more collaborative team. Providing honest feedback helps build trust within the team and is a building block for continued success.