What great managers do differently
Everyone wants to be a great manager. Everyone wants to work with a great manager. But what makes someone a great manager? Are great managers born great? “No”. I would say. The truth is they are just doing some things differently. While a lot depends on the kind of person you are, you can always pick up a few qualities that can help you become a good manager and then practice them well until you become a great manager.
If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself
–Henry Ford
Let’s take a look at some of the things that a manager does differently that makes him/her a great manager.
- They Hire Judiciously – It might look like a waste of time for many people to make the job description and take interviews, but this process helps in getting the candidate that will be a best fit for the role and the team. Remember, you are as strong as your team. Team up with the best Recruitment Agencies In India and give them a very clear idea about the kind of resource you wish to hire & the job specifications. Spend ample time with the candidate during the interview and exchange as much information as possible. Hire only if you think it is a right fit for both, you and the candidate.
“My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to take these great people we have and to push them and make them even better.”
-Steve Jobs
- They spend time on induction & training – hiring the right candidate for the job is just half the job done. Once the team member is on board, it is very important to spend time with them on their induction into the company and the team, get them acquainted with the company’s culture, ethics, mission, vision. Once the team is in place, a great manager also pays great attention towards the training and development of the team members. The team not only is motivated but also has a sense of belonging and commitment.
- They are not insecure – great managers are not insecure rather they are confident of their team members and always work as a team. Their approach is more democratic, and they like to involve the team members in the relevant decision-making processes and pass down the relevant information to the team. They appreciate the team members and give them credit wherever due. This makes the team more confident and empowered. They work more efficiently towards achieving the goals of the company.
- They Do Not Micromanage – when you have hired a great team, trained them well, empowered them, it would mean the team members are free to do their work without having to micromanage them. Micromanagement is not just annoying for the employees but also downright exhausting for the manager. A great manager trusts the team and lets them handle the tasks without constantly hovering over shoulders.
“No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it.”
-Andrew Carnegie
- They know their team well – A good manager spends time with the team getting to know them better. This helps the team bond well and work more effectively together. They rally the team towards a better future, not just of the company but also the better future of the team member.
- They respect the team members – A great manager knows his team well and trust and respects the team members. They respect the time and effort put in by the team. Small things like being on time for a meeting, taking decisions on time, being unambiguous in communication, show how much the manager values the team.
- They stand up for them – a great manager is also a great leader who not only leads the team but also stands up for them when the team needs it. A lot of teams fail because their managers are not able to stay strongly by their side. They are also good at conflict management. They try to improve the overall confidence levels of the team by being fair and unbiased during conflict situations.