If you’ve gotten used to the hustle and have always managed things on your own, it can be hard to suddenly find yourself handling your own set of employees and bombarded with all the stress of a management position.

Life is hard for the unprepared. Luckily, it’s not too late. Being a manager may require you to master a whole new skill set, but it doesn’t mean you have to learn it the hard way.

Experts have looked into the situation and have identified some universal techniques that work. The following are some tips that can help you have fun while learning.

 

Establish Solid Communication Practices

Your job as a manager requires you to know what’s happening at all times. Knowing what’s in the pipeline and how they are proceeding allows you to make the necessary decisions that keep the business in operation.

This is why it’s so important to establish a communication line that does not only tell you how processes are being done but also one that can serve as an avenue where employees can speak their mind and offer suggestions that can be beneficial to the progress of the company.

To establish a communication line, you need to determine the medium you will be using. This may depend on the company budget and the business’s needs.

Next, there should be a rule for responses as well as rules for when to get off the network and what protocols will be in place in case there are some urgencies.

Most importantly, you should be able to assess whether your communication process is effective, and fashion improvements on it from time to time.

 

Set a Meeting Process

In modern companies, meetings can be done either in real life or from the comforts of home through the incredible utility of video conferencing.

Whether you conduct meetings in person or online, you still need to put a form or structure to these organized gatherings to make sure the agenda are thoroughly discussed, potential solutions are brainstormed, and concerns are communicated.

Set specific dates and times in the month to hold meetings. This way, it will become part of the team routine, and everyone can prepare well to participate. Tack it in your team calendars so everyone is given notification as a reminder.

Always be prompt and on time for your meetings. Setup meeting notes, tools, and equipment ahead of time to avoid delays. A reliable docking station for laptops will help you multi-task on meetings. Even when you are the boss, you should set an example of character and not let everyone patiently spend their otherwise productive time waiting for you.

You can choose to set a meeting format so your team can expect what will happen. But this should not compromise the open discussion that should take place when necessary.

 

Learn to Read People

Or at least a part of them. Part of what distinguishes a great manager from a good one is their ability to discern what makes their teammates tick and capitalize on it to move everyone forward.

Is it hard? Yes, it is. Being a good people reader isn’t a gift that comes naturally to everyone. But if you ask the right questions, you can get insights that may be all you need to achieve your management goals.

Questions like “What’s you motivation?” and “What is you personality type?” can all lead to meaningful solutions about how to harness their abilities to achieve their own goals and help contribute to the growth of the company.

 

Make Sure Everyone Knows Their Part

Being a manager does not mean just designating tasks and telling people what to do. Being a manager means knowing why everyone has to do what has to be done, having the ability to change course when necessary, and leading people to cooperate with one another to achieve what collectively is everyone’s singular goal. If you are able to do this, you are no longer just a boss but a leader.

 

Lead

As you learn the secrets of the trade, you will be an asset to any organization you choose to belong, whether that be your own or someone else’s. It also becomes easier to change your management tactics as you adapt to different setups and situations.

In whatever conditions you may lead, always choose to do so by lifting up the people with you. Only by such can you truly succeed as a manager and a leader.

 

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