How To Learn To Manage People With Pictures

Don’t expect someone to give you the silver bullet to being a great manager. Becoming an effective manager requires time, effort, and experience.

Realize that you’ll learn more from experience than formal training. [3] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Business Review Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices Go to source The best way to learn to manage people is to roll up your sleeves and start working.

Blanchard and Johnson, The One Minute Manager Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Maxwell, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People

If you don’t have a college degree, you can work towards a bachelor’s in business management. If you already have a four-year degree, consider earning a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA).

You also aren’t a peer with your former co-workers. You can expect some former peers to be envious of your new job, but remember that your focus is not to be best friends with your team. Although you don’t need to be snob, you should remain a little removed from the water cooler gossip.

A mentor should be someone several steps up the ladder. [6] X Research source For example, if you’ve just taken a treasury position, you might want the Chief Financial Officer as your mentor. Many people feel uncomfortable asking someone to be a mentor. However, the mentor-mentee relationship usually develops naturally. Take in interest in what your potential mentor is doing. Ask to serve on committees and take them out to lunch. If there’s a connection, they may volunteer to take you under their wing. If a potential mentor doesn’t volunteer, you might need to ask.

You need to pay coaches, so check whether you can afford it. Fees vary by location, but you can expect to pay $50 an hour at a minimum. [8] X Research source You can find business coaches online and on websites like LinkedIn. Google the coach’s name to check their reputation.

Read prior employee evaluations. They should identify each employee’s strengths and weaknesses. Stop and chat. One advantage of being the first to arrive and the last to leave is that you have plenty of time to talk informally with people. [9] X Research source Ask how their job is going and what they need help with. Host a team dinner once a month and encourage staff to bring along their significant others. Pick up the tab. Seeing people interact informally can reveal a lot about what motivates them in life.

Use “I” language instead of “you” language. “I think it’s more effective to listen when a customer complains” is better than, “You only made things worse when you argued with that customer. ”[11] X Research source Your feedback should focus on actionable solutions. Give employees concrete steps to follow.

Active listening requires that you face your team member and give them your undivided attention. Close your email and send phone calls to voicemail. Be nonjudgmental. If you immediately shoot down ideas, your team will hesitate to share with you in the future.

To reward a one-time exceptional performance, you can write a sincere thank-you letter. Tell your employee what they did well and thank them for their effort. [16] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Business Review Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices Go to source Rewarding exceptional performance in staff meetings by complimenting someone who put in outstanding effort. However, some employees dislike being recognized in person, so pay attention to how they respond to know what to do and avoid in the future. To reward consistent, outstanding performance you can name an employee of the month or put on a recognition ceremony where you give someone a more substantial gift, such as a gift card.

Discipline is more than punishment, however. It also gives you a chance to intervene in your employee’s negative behaviors. If necessary, point them in the direction of your employee assistance program (EAP), where they can get help for addiction, financial problems, and relationship issues.