Bad management is not usually a result of bosses not knowing what to do to manage better. Rather, it stems largely from bosses not putting conventional managerial skills into practice. Little wonder, then, that despite the billions that organizations pour into managerial training, instances of shoddy management abound.
Here are a few simple and specific actions you can take now to become an effective boss.
- Smile more
- Appreciate more, judge less
- Compliment openly; critique and correct in private
- Don’t worry about who gets credit; give credit where due
- Give feedback now; don’t wait until the next performance review
- Reiterate employees’ strengths and make them feel smarter
- Get rid of busy work
- Simplify work and encourage expediency
- Establish deadlines and stick with them
- Organize employees’ time and priorities
- Explain what needs to be done and get out of the way
- Avoid giving conflicting orders
- Find the time to listen to your employees and follow-up
- Recognize the small picture
- Seek to understand what inhibits employee effectiveness
- Give employees adequate latitude
- Fix problems, not blames
- Encourage mistakes; own up to your mistakes
- Standup for your employees
- Encourage participation in decision-making
- Be tough-minded, not mean
- Do not play favorites; discourage sucking up
- Be accessible and friendly, yet consistent and objective
- Earn respect; don’t demand deference
- Attempt to influence by persuasion, not by wielding authority