Leadership excellence, have you ever wondered what sets exceptional leaders apart from the average ones? Traditionally, we have been taught to believe that the individual with the highest IQ present is thought to be the most intelligent. However, according to Deborah Sweeney, “With the advancement in the professional world, the reality hits completely different.
People with emotional intelligence and the four core skills are the top performers within any sector. This includes self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, and relationship management.”
Today’s managerial role demands more than simply overseeing the tasks and their completion. Being a good manager now means much more than just completing administrative duties; it’s also about supporting your team and maximizing their potential.
While a manager usually handles tasks like delegating assignments and approving timecards, a leader prioritizes the growth and welfare of team members. The exceptional manager knows how to balance both of these roles. They strategically leverage the strengths of individual employees to foster a thriving organization.
So, are you prepared to explore and execute strategies that will drive you toward becoming a great manager? The strategy explained below provides insights that can help you become an efficient manager, improve your leadership abilities, and make a lasting impact on people and the organization.
Leadership Excellence: Strategies for Becoming a Great Manager:
Becoming a great manager is a learned skill that requires diligence and continuous development over time. Here are 10 strategies you can work toward for being a good manager:
1. Developing Self-Awareness
Cultivate self-awareness by acknowledging your strengths, weaknesses, and values. This process aids in introspecting oneself and understanding how it affects those around you.
Steps to develop self-awareness-
- Practice mindfulness and self-compassion
- Reflect on your experiences
- Seeking feedback
- Challenging your beliefs
All these can lead to improved decision-making, better relationships with the team and help enhance overall personal growth.
2. Build Strong Communication Skills
Establish and maintain open lines of communication with your team. This approach can assist you in acknowledging their needs better, working with them on achieving tasks, developing trust and inclusivity, and decreasing misunderstandings.
When the communication is transparent, employees experience a higher level of engagement and a sense of worthiness. It is crucial for setting goals, conveying expectations, providing feedback, and fostering a more collaborative and positive work environment.
3. Setting Goals, Vision and Expectations
Have a clear vision and strategy for the team. It can provide a clear path for essential tasks and boost motivation within the team.
Be transparent about your expectations and communicate with employees. Routinely connect with the team members to ensure they are happy and feel challenged. Leaders who fail to listen and communicate will eventually be surrounded by individuals who need more input or contributions. Ensure the team is on the same page as you and is working together towards a common goal.
Once goals, deliverables, and expectations have been set clearly, it is vital to repeatedly emphasize them to monitor progress and ensure that projects remain on track.
4. Leading Teams by Example
Every workplace has its own set of challenges and examples. Great leaders establish the standard by leading from the front. They display honesty, authenticity, and accountability through their actions. They serve as a beacon for their team to follow. By inspiring their team to adopt their values and work ethics, they emphasize the importance of leading by example.
Always remember actions carry more weight than words. Hence, exhibiting the behavior and work ethic you desire from your team is paramount. Managers who address challenges with a positive attitude, creativity, and a solution-oriented mindset demonstrate problem-solving solid skills.
5. Continuously Learn and Improve:
Managers who excel in monitoring employees’ performance and identifying areas for improvement play a vital role in overseeing the company’s overall operational structure. They implement streamlined changes, often utilizing on-the-job training, team training sessions, and one-on-one mentoring to offer a structured learning environment.
Effective coaching involves motivating and advocating for the team members, akin to skilled coaches. Hence, it safeguards against burnout and cultivates a dedicated workforce.
A skilled manager understands how to tap into the strengths of their team members and transform their unique abilities into exceptional performance to increase leadership excellence.
6. Practice Emotional Intelligence:
Developing emotional intelligence includes effectively handling your emotions and being sensitive to others’ feelings to cultivate meaningful connections. Efficient leaders excel in emotional intelligence and regulate and control their emotions. They demonstrate empathy towards others around them.
Managers prioritizing emotional intelligence cultivate more harmonious workplace dynamics. They enable effective conflict resolution and foster a collaborative and uplifting team environment.
7. Foster a Positive and Inclusive Work Culture:
In this constantly changing working world, a good manager recognizes that employees are the most valuable assets of any organization. Beyond ensuring task completion and target achievement, they shape the work atmosphere. In fact, they prioritize developing a supportive work culture where employees feel valued, engaged, and motivated.
They create an environment where open & honest communication, recognizing and celebrating achievements, and offering opportunities for career development are critical factors in organizational growth.
The emphasis is on constructing relationships, trust, and a community sense. Efficiency is not the sole focus; instead, it’s about cultivating a setting where all individuals can flourish.
8. Provide and receive feedback:
To gain insights into your managerial strengths and areas for improvement, proactively seek regular feedback from your team. Equally crucial is offering timely feedback to them, ensuring they are constantly aware of their strengths and areas for growth.
Schedule regular opportunities, such as one-on-one meetings, for formal feedback exchange. Many professionals avoid honest conversations, fearing damage to relationships.
Mastering the art of effective feedback is essential for both team and personal development. Instead of waiting for formal reviews, make it a habit to provide regular, specific, and actionable feedback to your employees.
Encourage an open exchange of opinions on your performance, seeking input from a trusted colleague. Ultimately through continuous feedback, mutual growth, and stronger working relationships can be fostered.
Positive feedback boosts morale, while constructive criticism, delivered thoughtfully, paves the way for professional improvement and leadership excellence.
9. Support team collaboration & Delegate tasks:
Delegate tasks, trust your team, and offer resources for success. Cultivate a collaborative atmosphere where members work comfortably, sharing ideas and embracing diverse viewpoints. Collaboration boosts creativity and team unity, fostering a positive work environment.
Establish clear expectations, build trust, and delegate effectively. Transitioning from controlling all tasks to delegating responsibilities is crucial for growth. Managers should engage in tasks alongside their team and involve them in decision-making.
Effective management involves empowering others, assigning strengths-based tasks, and providing necessary support.
10. Recognition and Appreciation:
A crucial aspect of a manager’s role involves understanding each employee’s position, skill set, and performance levels. Especially creating tailored suggestions, programs, and resources is vital to support your team in reaching their individual goals.
Recognition and appreciation serve as powerful motivators. Regularly praising and rewarding employees through verbal acknowledgment or tangible rewards like bonuses or extra time off fosters a positive work environment and enhances team productivity.
Establishing habits such as active listening, focused questioning, positive closure of conversations, regular follow-ups, celebrating achievements publicly, and personal gestures of gratitude can significantly contribute to building strong relationships with your team members.
CONCLUSION:
As businesses continue to evolve, consistently understanding and implementing these strategies is crucial for efficient management and enhancing collaboration within a group. Lastly, a good manager crafts a vision, celebrates successes, learns from mistakes, and continually improves upon these elements. They recognize that for a team to thrive, each member should be on a journey of continual learning and personal development. This all are equally important to leadership excellence.
