Being a boss is great; the pay and benefit is better, and the power that comes with the job allows for more freedom. Being a good boss is a fine art, one that becomes better with experience. If you don’t exactly have 100% loyalty of employees working for you, expect your job to suffer as a result.
Knowing how to give criticism is important for a manager. One doesn’t want to use take-downs or lower the employee’s self esteem in the process of telling them how to improve. If you think that an employee could use a helpful push in the right direction, the best course of action is to simply call for a performance review. In the review, explain the problems and the solutions in a clear manner.
In the event that a manager would not be able to make it to work for some reason or another, he or she should have a “right hand man.” It’s even better if a manager can outline two or more people who should be turned to in the event that the manager is preoccupied or not at work. This also helps cut down problem solving work for the manager, given that he or she has passed their own skills onto select employees.
Withholding good comments from employees spells defeat for a manager. Managers should do their own work as outlined by the company, but also act as moral support for the branch being managed. Good comments allow workers to know what they do right, and of course motivates them to do just as good or better on future tasks.
Showing your employees appreciation takes the positive comment idea even further. This will build a tight-knit since of belonging, which gives way to extreme loyalty. Remembering birthdays, and perhaps buying a cake, or even stocking one’s favorite soda in the employee break room can make a huge impact. You may even try buying everyone in the office lunch several days a month if you are so inclined.
Above all else, the effective manager is going to be able to listen to his or her employees. This doesn’t always apply to work-related topics, but things that may be stressing them in their lives. In showing that one can be a good listener, employees return the favor and will listen to commands given to a fuller extent. In creating this new communication method, it also gives way to friendship that can be hard to create in the workforce.
Closing Comments
Even the worst of reputations can be fixed with the right motions. Try the mentioned tips out on your own staff to see if their overall efficiency increases. Odds are that over a well-enough time span, workers will be better satisfied and more motivated towards their goals.
