Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Leading the Pack: What Makes a Great Business Manager

Employers, sorry to break it to you, but you are often one of the main reasons why employees either stay leave their position. Part of your job is to keep your staff happy and productive, and while at times this can be challenging or take up a part of your day, the alternative is having to pay $200 a day for a job advertisement. A good manager doesn’t just plan, instruct, organise and lead; they have the ability to inspire, motivate and communicate with purpose and sincerity. It’s one of the toughest jobs out there as you are dealing with endless expectations and egos, but it is so rewarding when you receive positive feedback and staff who go above and beyond because they believe in the company’s vision as much as you do. In this modern world, there are skills and qualities you have to adapt to ensure this happens. Here is just a few.

Supports New Ideas

Employees that feel that their opinions and ideas can’t be heard often feel that they are not an integral part of the business. If one of your staff members comes to you with an idea to a problem that the company is facing and provides a solution, it means that they care about the future of their job and the direction of the company. It’s not only in your best interest to listen, but their new idea could be a fresh take on an old practice – one your company needs to have that competitive edge. By supporting their vision, you are lighting a motivational flame and providing a safe place where they feel as if they matter, regardless of whether it works out in the end.


Always willing to delegate

We all have all had that kind of manager, you know that one that just can’t let go of their baby (project) and if they do, spend the whole time micro-managing the situation. A great manager has obviously hired their staff for a reason and should be able to place trust in them to complete a project. It also means you are less bogged down with extra work, and you can focus more on your managerial duties.

Gives Credit Where Credit is Due

A great manager recognises when their team is working effectively and at a high standard. Even if they are appointed set tasks for the month, there is likely to be curveballs in the form of unexpected workloads thrown into the mix. If you’re team comes out at the end of the month unscathed, it pays to reward your staff with compliments or incentives.

Doesn’t Make Rash Decisions

If you are a leader, it’s safe to say that you got to where you are now through hard work and years of experience. You aren’t going to throw that knowledge out the door when it comes to making big decisions. A great manager doesn’t rely on that one size fits all mentality, they resort to past mistakes, failures and positive experience to make an informed decision.

Supports training and learning

Times are always changing, and if you intend on being a good leader, you need to stay on top of what’s happening in your industry. If you feel as those your employee’s skills aren’t up to industry standard, ensure that they have every opportunity possible to continuously learn and grow. This may be through allowing your staff to complete training programs like Axcelerate Australia, upgrading your technology systems, or attending industry conferences. This will motivate them and be beneficial to the company moving forward.
What makes your manager a great manager – or a bad one? Tell us in the comments below.

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