There are a lot of books and articles about “how to be a manager”. Being an effective manager doesn’t have to be a complex topic. Keeping a few concepts in your head and applying them over and over again can help you develop as a manager every day.
1. Health
Look after yourself physically and emotionally. Health is the platform for your success.
2. Success
Making your team successful makes you successful, not the other way around.
3. Direction
Talk about why you’re all heading where you’re heading, and what it looks like when you get there. Do this a lot.
4. Belief
People will only believe what you say, if you believe what you say.
5. Changing Direction
Changing your mind is OK, but be able to explain why (see 3).
6. Words
The more senior you get as a manager, the more impact your words have. Choose them carefully.
7. Actions
Keep your actions consistent with your words, what you do is what your team does
8. Delegate
You don’t need to know everything and solve every problem.
9. Consult
If you don’t know what your team thinks on an important topic, ask then listen.
10. Dictate (Sparingly)
Occasionally you have to tell the team exactly what needs to be done, when and how. But don’t make a habit of it.
11. Make Mistakes
Be willing to admit when you’ve made a mistake or a bad decision and make it OK for others to do the same.
12. Stretch People
Know the limits of everyone on your team and stretch them.
13. Praise
Pass praise onto your team, not criticism.
14. Coach
Celebrate amazing achievements and coach poor performance.
New To Management?
Most managers underperform in their first 2 years as a manager. Rookie Manager is a new , training program for managers built around a community of managers like you.