Character Traits Of An Effective Manager
Stepping into a position of management can be both exhilarating and daunting. Not only are you responsible for your own work, but you are also responsible for managing the colleagues that report to you. If they are not meeting the expectations placed upon them in their current roles, it reflects badly on you as a manager. Likewise, if your colleagues do not respect you or consider you a decent role model, this becomes a problem that you need to challenge.
So, what does it take to be an effective manager and how can you become one? Let’s remember at this stage that you are not placed in a position of management to win over the hearts of your colleagues, but rather to execute on business requirements. By the same token, it makes your job much more enjoyable if your colleagues respect you and value you as a leader. Combined, these attributes make you an effective manager.
Traits Of An Effective Manager
An effective manager takes both the business’s and employee’s needs into consideration at all times. He or she needs to always be cognisant of both parties and how they are affected by decision making. Typical positive traits that make a manager great include:
Being Able To Lead
It’s not as easy as one might think. Leadership has multiple facets to it. Yes, you need to lead your team through a range of deliverables in order to reach your KPAs, but you also need to inspire them and help them grow into more senior roles. This requires a firm hand, proper guidance, as well as compassion.
The best way to lead a team is by example. Work with your team, conduct the work as you would like it to be conducted and ensure you offer the feedback that you would appreciate or be able to learn from. Lead the way that you would want to be led.
Clear Communication Skills
Communication is everything. It forms the basis of all that is done and needs to be done, and it paves the way for future endeavours. A team that communicates on all aspects of the business is a team that is well-informed and properly equipped to deal with any and all eventualities.
As a manager, your instructions need to be clear and you can’t deviate from the original brief or plan. Be certain to communicate all aspects of the work required to each colleague so that everyone is aware of what they are required to do as well as where they stand.
A Good Ear
Your colleagues are humans and they will have human problems. Being able to listen to them and provide advice, support or actionable solutions is an incredible skill to have. It takes time to nurture but being able to listen and offer solutions to your team is something that will be greatly appreciated.
When you’re uncertain about the advice you should offer a colleague, ask them if you can take some time to think about it and come back to them after a period of time. If necessary, consult the opinion of other colleagues whom you respect in order to give a well-rounded response.
Experience
Everything improves with experience and being a manager is no different. Where experience is lacking, there are countless resources that can help you improve on your skills or learn about valuable ways to navigate business problems. The important thing is to learn and grow from mistakes made as a manager and as a team. Rather than take it personally, see it as an opportunity to improve.
Effective Time Management
Effective time management is at the core of every successful business person. Without it, deadlines are missed, opportunities disappear and there is no structure within your department. These negative traits then also become something your team learns from, continuing a cycle of poor management.
Make use of calendars and project management software to help manage your time effectively. Where there are overlaps in your time, don’t be afraid to say no to meetings or other responsibilities that won’t fit into your day. If they need to be dealt with on the spot, other responsibilities will have to compensate. Depending on the circumstances, you can also lean on your colleagues when you need to in order to meet the demands placed on you as a team.
Resources: https://www.forbes.com.
Photo by NESA by Makers on Unsplash.