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| How To Be An Effective Manager |
| Written by Michael Murray |
| Sunday, 01 November 2009 12:40 |
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Being a Supervisor or Manager of a department full of employees can be a very challenging thing. There are so many different dynamics involved in the work that you have to be a real people person with excellent balancing skills.
Being a Supervisor or Manager of a department full of employees can be a very challenging thing. There are so many different dynamics involved in the work that you have to be a real people person with excellent balancing skills. The staff at a normal work place is very diverse. There are many different personalities and cultures to accommodate that can sometimes be overwhelming. If you take a step back and think about how they are just people like you then it can be easier to deal with. You must first understand that what works for one of your staff members in terms of how you communicate with them may not work for the others. You may be able to joke around with one or two of your employees but find it difficult to do with others. You will have to learn your employee's personality types and develop you relationships in a way that is comfortable for them. Another piece of advice is to never allow a personal relationship or friendship to develop between you and someone that you manage. While it can seem harmless in the beginning, there may be a time in the future that you have to apply discipline to them. The end result is this individual takes it to heart because they can't separate the two relationships. The heartfelt betrayal will make them feel as though you have broken the bond, when in fact you were just doing your job. This is an easy situation to fall into, the first time. You will also notice that employees always want to come to the manager when they are enduring personal problems. They basically just need to vent, and since you are not attached to the situation there is a bull's-eye on your back. There is nothing wrong with listening to them, but don't offer any advice. Even if they ask for it, just step around it or tell them you feel uncomfortable. If you do offer advice they will believe you are forming a bond. Worst of all this is a situation outside of work. What you really need to do is make sure your staff reaches their goals set forth by the big wigs. You can be helpful in different ways other then offering advice. For instance is someone is having a bad day, let the Leads know they should give the individual their space for awhile. What it comes down to is you can have both a friendly relationship and business relationship with your employees. The biggest thing to remember is try to stay away from offering solutions. It will allow you to be a more effective leader. Oddly enough, lending an ear usually motivates most individuals into concentrating more on their work. Granted, when it comes to managing or supervising a group of employees, the great ones can maintain a friendly balance. You want your employees to respect you, and being humble while not running away from your own mistakes will make them work harder. So just help them through the rough period and there shouldn't be any problems at all. About the Author: Supervising a staff effectively is only one of the many subjects covered on Michael Murray's Job Cover Letters blog. Check it out for more career tips. |