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What makes business successful? What causes changes in productivity and profitability? The answer may be simpler than you think. According to one Gallup Poll, 70 percent of employee productivity is dependent on their manager. Unfortunately, the same poll also tells us that only about 10 percent of the people in management positions display the type of behavior that leads to employees performing at their full potential.
Every company, employee, and boss differs in how they lead and how they follow. This makes streamlining best management practices difficult. Luckily, there are traits you can develop in your management that will make a difference.
1. Stay in the Trenches
Good bosses lead by example and “stay in the trenches with their troops.” Instead of delegating items, successful managers will work hand in hand with their people. They’re there for the overtime work and don’t mind pitching in on mundane tasks to lighten the load for their team. This shows their employees that their directives are based on first-hand knowledge of daily operations.
2. Communicate Directly
Any communication can get lost in translation for several reasons. Politics and personal agendas often come into play, which leads to miscommunication between leaders and their teams. It is important to schedule time to speak directly to your employees, individually and as a group. It is vital to not only listen to what they say, but to observe their body language and the dynamics of your team. This will allow employees to feel respected and heard by their leaders.
3. Trust
When employees feel that you trust in their abilities, they will be confident in their work and be more productive. This ultimately allows the team to be more independent and work collaboratively amongst themselves. Without trust, the team will expend energy worrying about their place on the team and in the company.
4. Direct Softly
It is important to give adequate directions but avoid micromanaging your employees. Set clear expectations, but give employees the freedom to develop their own methods and ideas. In many instances, they are the closest to the problems that face the team and know the most practical approach to take.
5. Cut Your Employees a Break
Even the best people make mistakes. When your employees commit a blunder, make it clear this instance negatively impacts the business while expressing empathy and understanding. Focus on a solution rather than laying blame.
6. Give Credit and Take Responsibility
There’s a saying- players win games, coaches lose them. The same is true in business. Celebrate success by giving credit to the people who did the work, your employees. When things go badly, take responsibility and ask what you could have done differently to better support them.
7. Build Connections
Simply remembering an employee’s birthday or acknowledging the little things makes people feel valued and goes a long way to build rapport with your employees.
Most successful managers are able to get the best work from their employees because they remember that those working for them are people first, and employees second. Great managers work hard to motivate, inspire, and build relationships within their business.
Every company, employee, and boss differs in how they lead and how they follow. This makes streamlining best management practices difficult. Luckily, there are traits you can develop in your management that will make a difference.
1. Stay in the Trenches
Good bosses lead by example and “stay in the trenches with their troops.” Instead of delegating items, successful managers will work hand in hand with their people. They’re there for the overtime work and don’t mind pitching in on mundane tasks to lighten the load for their team. This shows their employees that their directives are based on first-hand knowledge of daily operations.
2. Communicate Directly
Any communication can get lost in translation for several reasons. Politics and personal agendas often come into play, which leads to miscommunication between leaders and their teams. It is important to schedule time to speak directly to your employees, individually and as a group. It is vital to not only listen to what they say, but to observe their body language and the dynamics of your team. This will allow employees to feel respected and heard by their leaders.
3. Trust
When employees feel that you trust in their abilities, they will be confident in their work and be more productive. This ultimately allows the team to be more independent and work collaboratively amongst themselves. Without trust, the team will expend energy worrying about their place on the team and in the company.
4. Direct Softly
It is important to give adequate directions but avoid micromanaging your employees. Set clear expectations, but give employees the freedom to develop their own methods and ideas. In many instances, they are the closest to the problems that face the team and know the most practical approach to take.
5. Cut Your Employees a Break
Even the best people make mistakes. When your employees commit a blunder, make it clear this instance negatively impacts the business while expressing empathy and understanding. Focus on a solution rather than laying blame.
6. Give Credit and Take Responsibility
There’s a saying- players win games, coaches lose them. The same is true in business. Celebrate success by giving credit to the people who did the work, your employees. When things go badly, take responsibility and ask what you could have done differently to better support them.
7. Build Connections
Simply remembering an employee’s birthday or acknowledging the little things makes people feel valued and goes a long way to build rapport with your employees.
Most successful managers are able to get the best work from their employees because they remember that those working for them are people first, and employees second. Great managers work hard to motivate, inspire, and build relationships within their business.
