Life is a juggling act, and working women need to be extra nimble and dexterous to face the challenges of managing at home and in the workplace. Here are a few pointers on how to become an effective manager.
-
Manage your time well
Time management is about getting all your daily duties completed in a reasonable amount of time. Set daily goals for yourself for both your work and home life that allow you to enjoy a sense of accomplishment. Don't set goals that will be impossible to reach. If it's your goal to finish a business proposal, make it your top priority during the workday. If you're determined to finally wrap all your holiday gifts, make that your evening's primary task.
-
Acknowledge the positive
See the positives in your staff and their work. Positivity breeds positivity. Genuine and meaningful praise goes a long way. If this is difficult for you, get in the habit of noting down positive things you notice about your staff. Give positive feedback regularly and let them know that you see the good work they do.
-
Lead by example
Leaders are often the people most watched. Give your staff reason to believe in you by maintaining a professional though approachable stance at all times.
-
Be self-aware
This point is an often overlooked one by most people in senior managerial roles. It is important to always be aware of your emotions and to manage them accordingly. If you’re going through a difficult time, be sure to not let it affect how you treat your staff. Managing your emotions well in the workplace not only affects those around you, it also demonstrates a level of maturity in the manager.
-
Bring an element of fun into the office
While it is important to maintain a level of professionalism, it doesn’t help anyone if you shut yourself off from your team members and refuse to engage with them personally. You could appear unapproachable and robotic. Be sure to go out for lunches and afternoon drinks when invited to do so. You will be creating a positive work atmosphere and be in a better position to deal with challenges if they arise.
-
Get a handle on your administrative tasks by making use of clever technology
Managers often get bogged down with admin-intense duties leaving their teams without strategic counsel and mentorship. Invest in technology that will allow you to coach your team as opposed to spending all your valuable time pushing paper. For example PRP Solutions has invented a tool which enables managers to spend more time managing people by automating all administrative tasks such as timesheet reporting and salaries. It provides reporting in real time which can be accessed from any device whether a smart phone or a desktop computer, freeing you up to concentrate on mentoring your team.
-
Forgive easily
You can be sure that as part of their nature, human beings will mess up and fail at some point. Step in and rectify errors where necessary and be brave enough to admit when you have made a mistake. There is no expectancy from your staff for you to be completely fail-proof. Most people like someone who takes responsibility for their actions. Never hold grudges as this only hinders individual progress and creates an atmosphere of a lack of trust.
-
Don’t be afraid to manage
People appreciate genuine leadership. Practice managing and making the tough decisions. These things get easier with practice but people will appreciate knowing where you stand and any changes they need to make from a staff perspective.
-
Be humble
Being humble doesn’t mean becoming the office doormat. It means being confident though approachable. Confidence inspires, attracts, excites and ignites. However, confidence without humility can be dangerous. Many leaders have fallen hard for lack of humility. When we are humble, no experience is beneath us and no colleague is unworthy. Always conduct self-reality checks to maintain a healthy level of humility.
-
Be supportive of your team
You need to have your team’s back. There is nothing more discouraging or de-motivating than feeling like your manager isn't going to bat for you. Your people need to be insulated from the politics and distractions that could potentially get in the way of their performance. You owe your team members this much. If they feel you're on their side and you've given them every tool they need to perform adequately, then you will find that they will not want to let you down. In this situation, "having their backs" means protecting and mentoring them if anything goes wrong, supporting them completely, and giving them reassurance.
