Having good managers is vital to the success of every company. These are the people who take on leadership roles and manage groups of people who’re all different from one another. Thankfully, management is a skill that, just like any other, can be learned. No matter how good you are at this job, it is recommended you always continue learning and developing your management skills.
Learn How to Listen
One of the biggest complaints employees in most companies have is that nobody values their opinions and suggestions. Keep in mind that the staff may become unmotivated and unhappy if they feel like they’re not being heard. This is exactly why a good manager needs to know how to listen, understand, and respond to what the employees are saying.
Work on Your Presentation Skills
Managers are often required to present the results of their teams to other employees, managers, as well as people who don’t work at the company. In order to become a better manager, you will need to work on your presentation skills. Start by learning how to speak confidently in front of a group of people. It’s important to begin with small groups and work your way up. Make sure you’re fully prepared to give the presentation every time, since that’s the only way you’ll be confident and have the courage to speak.
Improve Your Time Management Skills
Managing a team of people can be very exhausting and time-consuming, especially during the beginning stages of a project. In case you don’t have proper time management skills, it’s likely you’ll end up over-stressed. Coming to work tired and stressed out every day will drastically affect your work. You won’t be so tolerant anymore and you’ll likely start snapping at people. Employees won’t come to you for guidance anymore because they’ll start becoming scared of you.
However, you won’t be over-stressed if you simply improve your time management skills. You can do this by scheduling tasks and setting deadlines for everything that needs to be done. When you wake up each morning you should make a list of things you need to do that day. This will help you determine which tasks are important and which aren’t.
Get a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
Continuing professional education and acquiring certifications in your area of expertise is an excellent way to both become a better manager and get better jobs. When it comes to project management, the PMP is the most valued industry-recognized certification. However, know that the exam can be challenging, which is why you should consider enrolling into a training program. Make sure you choose a program created by a reputable organization, like Edwel Programs, which is located in more than 20 cities and has helped thousands of managers get their PMP certifications.
Learn How to Handle Toxic Employees
Every once in a while you will get a job to lead a team with a toxic member. If someone’s behavior is having a bad effect on the work of the other team members, it will be up to you to solve the problem. The good news is that the process behind handling toxic employees is usually pretty straightforward. First off, you will need to schedule a one-on-one meeting with this person and try to find out the reason for their behavior. After you do that, it’s time to talk with other team members individually and get their take on the whole situation.
Once you hear all of the details from every possible angle, you will have to review the information and come up with a plan. Essentially, you’ll need to host a meeting for the whole team during which you’ll clearly define appropriate and inappropriate behavior at work. In order for you plan to work, you should make it clear that the employees who aren’t able to follow these rules will no longer have a position at the company.
