My teenage son had a realization regarding his short life recently; he said, “I only learn the hard way, Mom.” This is after a couple of “lessons learned”-- totaling his Toyota Corolla and racking up $170 in overdraft fees on his bank account. As managers, sometimes we learn the hard way. Early on in my career, I experienced some of those lessons (like mother, like son).Here are some things that we can resolve to do in 2015 to become a better manager and avoid some of the challenges that come with managing people—good reminders for most of us:
- Have a learning attitude. Be open to new ideas from your staff. Sometimes when you are “not so seasoned,” you think you know it all. Something that may sound completely off base may just be a new, creative way of looking at a challenge in a way you’ve never done so before. A humble leader draws people to him/her not because s/he has all the answers, but because s/he recognizes the input of others.
- Make time for your team members. They will only be as successful as you help them to be. In my current role as an Executive Recruiter, when I contact subordinates for references on their bosses, the positive responses I hear relate to availability. Their bosses keep scheduled 1:1 staff meetings without the distraction of calls, texts or emails. Show them what they do is important to you.
- Being a good communicator means being a good listener. We understand we all have different communication styles. Some of us may not like confrontation, others may be too direct. Stay away from using the word “you.” Encourage and recognize, but create an atmosphere of accountability at the same time. We all like to know what is expected, but we also like to be commended.
- Provide progressive discipline if needed. A poor performance review should not be a surprise to an employee if you have applied this practice. Be tactful, diplomatic and show respect. Sandwich the negative with the positive.
- Highlight and encourage career development. At least twice a year, we should have this type of conversation with our staff. Ask them what they love to do. Who doesn’t like to talk about their future and their goals?
A Chinese proverb states: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” Identify one or two management skills you would like to improve on next year. I certainly don’t want to learn the hard way anymore! It’s not fun. What will be your first step in becoming a better manager in 2015?
Rosie Saenz is a long-time Principal & Recruiter at Morgan Consulting Resources, a healthcare executive search firm celebrating 20 successful years in business.
