Management isn’t easy. There are so many things to worry about. Marketing, payroll, HR. If you work for a big company, you will have departments to look after all of this generally, but day to day a lot falls to you. If you run your own small company, you will probably oversee all of it. When we are so busy, with so much to think about, often people management gets forgotten. However, it shouldn’t, as the way we manage the people that work for us has a huge impact on the success of a company. Remember, happy staff make productive staff.
Know Your Own Job
To be a great manager, you need to know your own job inside out, as well as having an in-depth knowledge of your whole industry. You might want to consider further education, such as a masters in computer science online. With computers and the internet being such a big part of how we conduct business now, it would give you a great head start.
Have Empathy
Be understanding and empathetic. Understand your staff and clients, not just from a professional point of view. Be honest and open. Make sure they know they can always ask you for help. This will lead to fewer mistakes down the line.
Be Organized
Organization is very important to all management. Keep a diary and to do lists. Make sure you communicate anything you need to.
Delegate
Don’t try and do everything yourself. A great manager delegates to those around them, knows their staff’s strengths and weaknesses and gives them challenges.
Get Stuck in
On the other hand, you’ll gain a lot of respect if your staff see you working hard, and if you are willing to get stuck in and help them at busy times. Remember, never ask someone to do something you wouldn’t be willing to do yourself.
Get to Know Your Staff
Knowing your staff will help you manage them. Know what they can do, what they enjoy, the jobs they dread. Know what’s going on in their lives so you can be there for them or understand if they need time off.
Make Your Expectations Clear
One of the main reasons people make mistakes, or don’t live up to expectations, is that they don’t know what these expectations are. Keep them informed with regular and clear communication.
Regular Appraisals
Appraisals are vital to letting people know how they are doing and what they could improve, as well as giving you a chance to lay out those expectations. Schedule them regularly for all staff members.
Feedback
Don’t wait for appraisals to give feedback. This makes things seem like big problems when they often aren’t. Offer regular feedback, and be sure to praise when its due. But also, be prepared to accept feedback from others.
Be Nice
This might sound obvious, but a little bit of niceness goes a long way. Whether that’s remembering someone’s birthday, or asking about their weekend. Your staff’s respect for you will grow with each small gesture.
If a masters course could help you, consider studying online so you don’t have to neglect your business to do so. The New Jersey Institute of Technology offer great courses such as an online masters in computer science that could be very beneficial.
Kidal Delonix is a contributor to Mr. Hoffman's blog. The views and opinions are entirely his/her own and may not reflect Mr Hoffman's views.
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