Eight Things Successful Managers Do Well
In my post on mistakes managers make, I promised to look at the flip side—things successful managers do well. There are many such things, fortunately. Here are just a few.
Good managers focus on the process—not the plan. Yes, a plan is important. But in these days of nonstop change, successful managers are able to change plans quickly to adapt to changing conditions. This entails modifying strategies in light of new information and doing so as often as circumstances warrant.
Be the boss, but keep your ego in check. If you act like you’re better than everyone else or flaunt your knowledge and power, you won’t connect with people. Being human, even while being the boss, is a sign of genuine leadership.
Also, be straight with your employees, even regarding bad news. Deliberately withholding information is a certain trust-breaker. Employees may not always like what you tell them, but they’ll respect you for being open and honest.
Remember to build relationships. Aim to meet people all over the organization chart, whether their position is above yours, below yours, or equivalent to yours. People you look to as allies and partners become increasingly more important as you move up the management ladder.
Learn how to effectively delegate. Let employees know what’s required of them and by when, and then let them go to it. Use periodic checkpoints or milestones to ensure they’re on track. Serve as a guide, not a micromanager. Intervene if circumstances warrant, but don’t do their job for them.
Listen. To whom? Your employees, your customers, your superiors—everyone, really. Seek clarification when you’re not sure what you’re hearing—and sometimes even when you are sure. Listening may be the most important component of communication for a successful manager.
Coach the right people. Notice that the emphasis is not just on coaching, but on coaching the right people. This means finding the right people to prepare for positions needed by the organization to attain its goals and coaching those people to prepare them for these positions.
Give credit where credit is due. Taking credit for the efforts of your employees discourages them and diminishes you. As a manager, you need to be able to gain satisfaction from the successes of your employees. The more you publicize their successes, the more eager they’ll be to repeat their performance and the more their successes will reflect positively on you.
What else have you seen successful managers do? If you’re a successful manager, what has helped you?
