The 5 Qualities Of A Great Manager

There’s a difference between a manager and a leader. A manager’s responsibilities might include task delegation and timecard, but a leader focuses on the growth and well-being of your team members.

The best managers know how to do both roles, and can stra

tangle the best out of their employees. Being part of the management staff can be empowering and make you wonder if a boss could really get your work done. It’s also stressful in an environment where your coworkers are trying to run your business or keep you from getting promotions. However, that doesn’t mean your job is boring. In fact, it should be exciting—because that’s what your role as a top manager does for your company. If you want to help others accomplish the tasks they face every day, you must first learn how to be good at two things: leading and managing. Here's everything you need to know about how to become a better manager in 5 steps.

Step 1: Learn How Your Team Work

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In order to develop the skills needed to lead, consider taking some initiative in training everyone on what you expect of them. After all, you cannot manage effectively if you don’t know your team’s strengths and weaknesses. You can’t achieve your objectives without knowing who’s doing what and why. Employees need constant motivation, encouragement, and self-improvement to stay productive and efficient. So, set goals and create plans around improving how your team works. This will give you insight into which tasks are difficult and where they fall short. Once you have this kind of information, you’ll be able to identify issues that require more attention before tackling other project needs. When planning ahead, consider using tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, Google Sheets (for organizing projects and data), Slack (for discussions), Confluence and Dropbox for file sharing and documents. These applications let you streamline processes so that people can focus on accomplishing tasks without distraction, while still maintaining accuracy and productivity levels high. For example, by having a single location for all communication between departments, such as one Gmail account used across multiple teams, you get rid of confusion among internal communications.

Step 2: Understand Communication Patterns & Expectations

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Effective leadership requires a clear understanding of the patterns and expectations within each department. Whether you want to work with large groups or individuals, establish procedures and rules so that everyone knows what’s expected of them. Developing these expectations will help you find ways to motivate your team members so that those who have trouble meeting deadlines don’t feel like they aren’t being recognized for their efforts. Also, by establishing formal channels for communicating information, you will ensure that information is accurate and delivered accurately. Keep in mind that not all messages will be received positively by everyone from time to time, even when delivered correctly. Therefore, communicate regularly, including during times when someone’s opinion matters most. Remember that communication, like any skill set, takes practice. But one way to start learning to communicate better is through interactive lessons for team building. Using resources like PowerPoints, video courses, books like “The Elements of Leadership” and online course platforms, the goal here isn’t just reading the material, though that will definitely help. Instead, a great deal of success hinges on creating an atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable to discuss things that impact the individual as much as the whole staff, helping them see the bigger picture.

Step 3: Know What Results Are Desired And Set Objectives

One of the biggest barriers to effective leadership is poor communication strategies. Without strong communication skills, it’s hard to measure results. That’s why you should take the opportunity to train yourself about the different types of feedback you receive from everyone, whether positive or negative. Use these opportunities to determine whether there are areas of concern that need addressing, especially in areas where your team struggles. One of the main advantages of teamwork and collaboration are the conversations that happen outside of meetings. Even after completing simple tasks, it’s important to remember to check-in with the group you work with on a regular basis. Find ways to meet up early and often, whether it’s volunteering together for events or hosting team lunches. Encourage dialogue and discussion about problems and ideas in an open forum that promotes trust, transparency, and engagement. Try to avoid being too close, because this can impede creativity and cause tension. All the group members should know what your intentions are for them and how they can help contribute to solving the issue. By working together on problem-solving, you’re setting priorities while providing direction for the team’s future.

Step 4: Create Clear Vision & Drive Execution

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When planning the development of your vision for the team, make sure you set goals, assign duties, and then monitor progress. Every person involved in the process needs to understand exactly what needs to be accomplished, and when, in order for it to be successful. Having a plan for the creation of a new product or service can also prove useful to your organization as a whole. Not only do you ensure that everyone has the understanding and resources necessary to accomplish their assigned task, you might even discover new challenges or opportunities that arise unexpectedly. Before deciding on a framework for success, evaluate which factors make it easy for participants to perform their jobs and make decisions, especially when it comes to delegating tasks and making appropriate changes to the workflow. Make sure that everyone feels respected, included and valued, and that they feel confident in their ability to provide solutions to difficult situations. Acknowledging individual contributions, including the benefits of the input from others, will encourage people to remain honest with one another when asking questions and voicing concerns. Finally, set specific, measurable objectives and be realistic about what you think can be achieved in five years. Setting ambitious targets helps ensure that everyone remains accountable and on track, with no gaps in knowledge due to lack of time or expertise.

Step 5: Get Feedback From Others And Listen Intently

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One of the keys to becoming a successful manager is ensuring that everyone has an idea of the type of leader they want to become, because that’s often all they see and hear. By listening actively and paying attention to people's opinions, you’ll build relationships and foster connections that will help you realize your vision. Effective leaders listen carefully to understand what others have to say, and offer constructive criticism and feedback, allowing people to improve through experience and growth. Don't forget to ask the right questions too! Many companies may ignore bad employee behavior simply because it doesn’t affect their bottom line. Take the extra step now to figure out what they’re doing wrong and find ways to solve the issue. Often, this involves talking through differences and finding common ground. Just like a relationship, a team member's performance will change over time as they gain experience and grow professionally. Consider implementing a peer review program or similar program to provide feedback for everyone involved. An objective evaluation tool will also allow supervisors to assess and adjust to the behaviors and attitudes of team members so that everything stays on track, regardless of the situation.