Becoming a successful manager requires you to develop good management habits that become second nature.
Always treat employees with courtesy and respect. This means that we make requests, rather than bark orders. We listen without interruption when others speak and acknowledge the opinions of others, even if we disagree with them. Courtesy and respect make work and life easier for you and your staff.
Provide reasons, whenever possible. People are more likely to support you if they understand the reasons for actions and requests. Need an employee to work overtime? Explain why it is important. Need a report three days early? Give the employee a reason. Giving employees the reasons for actions or decisions help them put it into context. They may not like it, but they understand why it is necessary.
Always remember that your employees are people with a life outside the organization. Sometimes, their personal lives must take precedence over their work lives. Take personal pressures and demands into account when addressing behavioral and performance issues. Personal problems are not an excuse for poor performance or bad behavior, but they can be a mitigating factor.
Manage by walking around. Get out of your office and cube and walk the floor. Meet employees on their territory and find something to compliment. Ask how things are going? Be a physical presence and help employees get to know you as a person in addition to their manager.
Spread the word and show appreciation for a job well done. When an employee does an outstanding job or performs work outside the scope of their daily duties, make sure you recognize that accomplishment in the presence of your entire staff.
