Every employee works differently, that's the nature of a workplace. But there are fundamental things that a manager can do in their role to ensure productivity, efficiency and camaraderie among coworkers.
Lead, don't manage: The title might be manager, but think of yourself more of as a leader. Managers manage, which can lead to micromanaging and taking away the autonomy of an employee. By leading, you are instilling the trust and confidence into someone to complete the work at the best of their abilities.
Find their energy: What gives those you manage energy? And more importantly, what takes their energy away? If you can establish those two things, you can successfully create an environment where your employees work best and feel good about the work they are doing. The rest will follow when your team feels that their energy comes naturally and their work is challenging and enjoyable.
Always keep learning: Good managers don't assume they know everything just because they are in a position of leadership. Continuously educate yourself on a daily basis and grow your breadth of knowledge. Whether that's from books, newspapers, blogs or those around you, there are unlimited resources that you can take advantage of. Most importantly, learn from those you manage.
Provide feedback: Recognizing a mistake is one thing. But to understand the mistake and let an employee know that it was a learning opportunity is another. Take advantage of times to coach and provide constructive feedback that will allow them to improve next time. Criticism without encouraging improved performance is pointless. Be a leader, a constructive cheerleader and a coach. But also know when to let an employee run with an idea and figure things out on their own.
Understand culture: Location, location, location. And while you might not be able to change how much traffic your team has to sit in in order to get to work, you can make their workplace a good location to arrive to. You can have the best strategy in the world, but if the work culture doesn't match up, success will never happen. Give your team a social network that is fun, interactive and comfortable. This comes with picking a team that you feel is approachable and communicates effectively.
The best of the best still make mistakes. But that doesn't mean you can't strive for being better than you were yesterday, and being better for each and every member of your team. They trust you and rely on you for more than just company matters. Don't ignore your own professional development just for that of your own employees. Every day seeks room for improvement.
