Characteristics of Good Management
Putting together a good management team is a key part of running a successful business. Managers not only have to watch over their employees, but they also have to make important decisions that affect the company directly. If an employer wants to hire a manager, they need to know what makes a good manager. Companies can make good hiring decisions when they know these traits, and managers can do their jobs better when they know what is expected of them.
Good managers show their employees respect and appreciation, give them the tools they need, share their knowledge, listen to them, and delegate tasks well.
1. Employees Should Be Thanked
Companies with good management teams know how important it is to treat their employees with respect and appreciation. Thanking someone, giving them a bonus, giving them paid time off, or giving them something else of value are all ways to show appreciation. When managers show their employees that they care, it boosts their morale. Satisfied employees like their jobs, rarely miss work, and do their jobs with a lot of energy. Management can also show their appreciation by giving employees evaluations and giving them rewards based on how well they do their jobs.
2. Give the Necessary Tools
Good management makes sure that employees have the tools they need to do their jobs. When employees are asked to do their jobs and meet goals without being given the right tools, they may lose motivation. Companies with good management give their employees the right training in the latest technology, ethics, and how to work as a team. Good organisational management believes in giving employees the skills and knowledge they need to help the business grow and stay successful.
3. Being Generous with Knowledge
Management must have the knowledge they need to compete effectively in their field. The knowledge that managers have comes from being able to learn important things. So, managers need to know what’s going on in their industry and organisation. Managers must also be willing to teach their employees and other managers what they know.
4. Listens and makes smart choices.
Managers should take the time to hear what their staff has to say. Management is sometimes willing to listen to the ideas of good employees, but they often don’t care about what employees have to say. Managers who are good at their jobs know how important it is to listen to their employees. One reason is that it makes workers feel like their ideas are important. Another reason is that management can take suggestions, worries, and complaints from employees into account when making decisions. Organizational decisions should be good for both the company and its employees.
5. Lead your workers and give them tasks to do.
Good management knows how to help their employees grow by focusing on what they do well. Most of the time, employees need to hear what they are doing right, not what they are doing wrong or where they need to improve.
A company with good managers also hires experts who know how to give tasks to their subordinates. Teams and individual contributions are both used by successful organisations. A manager who gives tasks to workers shows that the workers are seen as responsible and able to do their jobs. Delegation also lets managers focus on more important problems that need more knowledge than what their employees have.
Five Things that make a good manager
Many of us have worked for a boss who might not have had the qualities of a strong, confident leader. Some people started a small business because they wanted to get out of that kind of situation and be their own boss.
Most small business owners who are successful, though, will need to hire at least one employee at some point. When that happens, you are no longer just your own boss; you are also the boss of anyone you’ve hired to help your business grow. In a small office, it’s especially hard to deal with personality clashes and disagreements with your staff, so it’s important to be a good leader.
To avoid becoming the boss you’ve always hated, make sure you know what makes a good manager and try to adopt these five traits whenever you can.
1. A good attitude and the ability to get people to do things
Negativity and cynicism are bad for business, especially when they come from someone in a high position. When problems or roadblocks come up, they’re the easy way out. Think of them as a virus that spreads to your staff and drains them of their energy, excitement, and motivation.
A good manager doesn’t let these negative feelings get in the way of doing their job. Instead, they choose to show a positive attitude and keep their passion for the job at hand. This kind of behaviour will also spread like a virus among your employees, but it will spread faith, hope, and confidence. By not letting stress, failure, or frustration get to you, you’ll help create a place where people are happy and productive and morale is high.
2. Excellent communication skills
No one likes a boss who is hard to get in touch with or won’t listen. When bosses put up barriers to communication, they become disconnected from their staff and can’t connect with them. And even though it’s a bit of a cliche for a manager to say they have a “open door policy,” people tend to like those who actually do. Today, it’s not enough to just open the door. You’ll also need to answer the phone and check emails and text messages from your employees.
The best managers are good listeners who show through their answers and actions that they have heard their employees’ concerns and comments and are willing to do something about them.
Listening is important, but it’s only half the job. Just as important is being able to communicate clearly and honestly in a variety of settings, such as a one-on-one meeting, a speech to a group, a phone call, or an email. Good managers can make rules, responsibilities, and expectations clear to everyone. They won’t try to hide bad news, but when the situation calls for it, they can be diplomatic and wise.
Lastly, don’t forget about how you talk without words. Even if you don’t say anything, your staff will get the message from your body language, like a slouched shoulder or raised eyebrows. Practice your poker face so that your body language doesn’t make it hard for people to understand what you’re trying to say.
3. Ability to set priorities and willingness to delegate
People often say that bad bosses “micromanage” their workers by getting in the way of their work or taking over tasks entirely. This is not only a waste of the manager’s valuable time, but it also takes away the freedom employees need to do their jobs and makes them feel like they are not important.
Most managers are very busy and have a lot on their plates. It is neither necessary nor helpful for them to watch what their staff does every minute. Most of the time, it’s best to let people work through their problems on their own. They’ll learn from their mistakes, gain skills faster, and be able to take on a wider range of responsibilities in the long run.
A little guidance here and there isn’t a bad thing, of course. This is where the ability to make decisions, see the big picture, and set priorities come into play. Good managers should always keep the big picture in mind, know what’s important and what can wait, and distribute resources as needed, all without making decisions when they’re rushed. Plan and organise your business well so you don’t waste anyone’s time and can keep your business on track.
4. Flexible and able to change
Even though routines can be helpful in business, no one wants to be tied to them. Because of this, the best managers are flexible enough to accept new ideas and encourage change. Just like each situation needs a different approach, each person needs to be dealt with as an individual, not with a one-size-fits-all method.
In the same way, good managers know they need to change and stay up-to-date if they want to keep their jobs. It’s important to avoid being called a “dinosaur,” because that’s the first step toward going out of business. This could mean keeping up with technological advances and other industry trends, or it could mean being open to new ideas and changing cultural views.
5. Kindness and compassion
Your employees are not robots. Everyone has a life outside of work, and some of them have problems with their families or other stresses. No matter what is going on in their personal lives, your employees won’t always be at their best and will make mistakes. When things like this happen, don’t act like a tyrant; instead, show some empathy. Don’t miss a chance to show that people are more important to you than the bottom line.
If someone has a problem that causes them to be late or change their hours, show that you understand and care. As long as nothing serious has gone wrong, be ready and able to make light of a situation. Show your staff that you care about them and are kind, and they will be loyal and hardworking for you in many ways.