Successful managers understand that the most important resource in an office is the staff who do the work. Machines and software are fast and efficient, but they can only be as effective as the people who apply their creativity and know-how to programming and using the machines.
It is not enough to have an experienced and skilled manager. You must also have a workforce that is dedicated to excellence and achievement. Using a recruitment service like Skillfuel to hire people who are a good fit for your current office dynamics is an efficient way of collecting good staff. But finding a good manager with the necessary skill set to guide the employees requires more vetting.
A good manager is well-versed in the soft skills of personnel management. The employees will respect a manager who understands the work, but they are more likely to follow a manager who knows how to communicate.
Understanding Different Points of View
People are different, and being able to suspend your own opinions enough to see a situation from another person’s perspective is a precious skill. Good managers understand that even if there is a guideline or a rule book, employees must be given a certain leeway when dealing with customer issues/inquiries.
Flexibility in the Workplace
Effective managers understand that each person can have their own approach to completing a task. Even if one person has used the same successful technique repeatedly, that does not mean that every other employee must use the same technique. Each employee must be allowed to find their own most effective techniques.
Trust at Every Level
The employees must trust their managers to take care of them, lead them, and properly guide them to achieve productivity goals. The manager must trust the staff to work independently, lead individual teams on projects, and meet expectations. This starts with the manager proving that they know how to keep the workforce content and productive while meeting the goals set by upper management.
Active Listening
Bad managers tell their employees what to do, but good managers listen to their employees’ suggestions before deciding how to move forward. Good managers know that the employees are the ones on the ground, using the software, meeting the clients, and are the best resource for learning how to improve processes and procedures. Active listening can help a manager improve a workflow process immensely with minimal financial and time investments.
Leadership Skills
Good managers are optimistic and positive people who take accountability when required while giving praise individually when necessary. They expect their staff to be as dedicated to excellence as they are and lead by being an example of the values and behaviors they wish to see.
Leadership skills can be learned or honed with training and experience. Good managers will seek opportunities for training or projects that test their skills because they are confident in their ability to learn and improve. They must be supported in these endeavors as their effectiveness will drive the growth of the business.
The best way to recognize an employee with the ability to become a good manager is to find out who has the best problem-solving skills. This is essentially the majority of a manager’s job. No matter how well production may be going, there will always be problems.
Good managers are problem solvers who can adapt to each situation. They know how to resolve issues according to the situation that does not create resentments or leave room for future issues. Therefore, a problem-solving employee should be fast-tracked on the management route.
