There is no such thing as a perfect manager, but in today’s market it is important that every employee improves his or her performance. Here are a few things that managers can do to improve their performance.
1. Lead by Example
While this common phrase is used daily in various situations, it is equally important in management. Most managers have been placed in positions not because they are the best in their field but because of their experience. This experience sometimes causes them to become lazy and lax in their approach. Managers feel that they should just give direction instead of showing their team members the right way by performing to the best of their ability.
2. Give The Reason
Some managers have a hard time communicating with their employees. Oftentimes, they will assign them tasks without giving them a reason. Employees should not be told to do something without a reason. Conveying the reason gives the employee a better idea of the purpose. For example, Manager John tells the front line employees to always answer the phones on the first ring. John has just given a command and has not given them a reason why this is important. It would have been better if John told the reason to answer the call on the first ring is because the company is trying to improve sales from inbound calls. It is important that the phones are answered on the first ring so that there are no missed opportunities.
3. Implement & Support Peer to Peer Coaching
To further improve communication efforts between managers and employees, peer to peer coaching is a suggested method. This allows employees to help each other throughout the day without managers handling all of the situations. Most front line employees have a better connection with the person that works with them daily as compared to their supervisor. This creates a support system and also reduces the chance of small issues turning into big issues.
4. Identify Your Employee Strengths
We all have our weaknesses just like we have our strengths. Too many times managers will focus on their employees’ weaknesses and overlook their strengths. This is a big problem that managers do not address. Identifying the strengths of employees provides you sense of what each employee role should be. The science of Organizational Performance looks at the entire organization including the employees. When you have people working in an area where their strengths will not be used this hurts their overall performance. Managers must be engaged with their employees to create a winning team.
5. Create Your Own Management Style
What works for someone else will not always work for you. Often managers try to emulate the practices and styles of other managers. The truth is that every manager has their own style. The best thing to do is to try different methods to improve your team such as weekly meetings, one on ones, or even daily motivations. Bottom line, just do what best fits you and your team. This process will take some time to develop but do not be discouraged. Your employees will appreciate your efforts and will respect your individuality.
Tim Lampkin is an entrepreneur based out of Mississippi. He is the CEO of Southern City Greeks. His background covers the areas of Management, Sales, Organizational Performance, and Marketing. Lampkin also provides services such as Booking, Tour Production, and Public Relations for several people in the entertainment industry. He is currently pursuing his MBA from Delta State University.
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