Whether you’ve just been promoted to a leadership position or you’ve been a manager for a while, if you want the people you lead to consistently deliver great results, you need to find ways to keep them happy, motivate and make them succeed. Five executives give us their top tips for becoming a better manager.
1. Show your vulnerability
Zarah Al-Kudcy, head of commercial partnerships at Formula 1, says great managers are honest. And it’s something that has been crucial during the pandemic and continues to be essential in the post-COVID era of remote work strategies.
“I think over the last few years it’s become essential to embrace vulnerability and be able to say ‘I didn’t quite get it’ or ‘I may not know this’,” she says. “I think it’s more reflective of our current society and how we question each other.
Ms. Al-Kudcy believes people respond well to managers who are genuine and show their own vulnerabilities. She is willing to own up to her mistakes, she is open with members of the organization, and she encourages others to think about lessons they could learn as well.
“So it’s about showing that I’m able to say, ‘I’m not perfect, I was wrong, I admit that.’ And that level of honesty creates a better working environment for others.”
2. Recognize that it is better to be good than perfect
Jeff Singman, executive vice president of technology at Arkos Health, says effective leaders understand that each member of their team has individual strengths and weaknesses. An effective management style is about putting people in the right position, where they can work confidently and start to excel.
“Nobody is perfect,” he explains. “It’s important for people to learn that good is often good enough when it comes to the work they do. I’m a big believer in the adage ‘good is better than perfect’ because perfect takes too much time and isn’t achievable, so set an achievable goal that people can hold on to. Making them feel like they’ve accomplished something is key.”
Mr. Singman also believes that effective leadership requires more than setting general goals. In his experience, management style is likely to vary slightly depending on the personality and image of the person you are dealing with.
“You just have to adapt your environment,” he explains. “You have to set limits, guidelines and rules. We are agile, we are innovative, we are a unicorn in health. Flexibility and creativity, collaboration and mutual respect are the keys to success. ‘innovation.”
3. Celebrate Success
Prakash Rao, group leader of supply chain projects at retail and hospitality giant Landmark Group, says good managers recognize that their team is their strength.
“You have to start by building your team by recruiting the right people,” he explains. “And when I say the right people, they have to be in tune with the company culture, company ethics, company principles and values.
According to Mr. Rao, good managers ensure that their staff continue to receive training and development, so that they can learn new skills and achieve excellent results. And when staff members achieve results, it’s essential to build excitement through rewards, recognition and a culture of support and happiness.
“Every month we celebrate successes,” he explains. “We call on people who have worked well to keep the team motivated. Finally, managers need to have a sense of humor. Your team needs to be happy to come to work every morning. A happy employee is a happy customer.
4. Continuously engage with employees
Cyril Pourrat, Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) at telecommunications giant BT, says traditional, top-down management styles are unlikely to work in today’s modern business environment. The only way to succeed is to engage as much as possible with your staff.
Mr. Pourrat explains that some of the senior management positions he held came with special benefits: a large office, a car and a driver. In his current role as CPO and Managing Director of BT Sourced, which is a stand-alone sourcing company within BT Group, he avoids those frills because his priority is to engage closely with the team.
“I don’t have a car, I don’t have a driver and I use public transport,” he explains. “I’m wearing jeans and trainers. And I’m sitting in the middle of the team. And anyone, anytime, knows that if they have a question, they can stop and have a chat” .
Pourrat says his previous experiences have helped shape his committed approach. He worked for several years in the Middle East as a purchasing manager. When he first visited his procurement team for one of his duties, they were surprised to see him take the time to leave his VIP office and commit to their ground.
They said: “That’s not how it works in this company. Usually we go to see the management team and it’s rarely the management team that comes to see us. I replied “Well, you’ll have to live with it, because that’s how I work. When I left office, several of them said to me: “What we will miss most is is that you come to see us”.
5. Be clear about expectations
Mary O’Callaghan, director of technology engagement at the charity British Heart Foundation, is another senior executive who believes speaking to people on their terms is crucial to success. Her advice to other managers is simple: be committed, clear and concise.
“I have always shown empathy and interest in people. It is very important that you know clearly what you expect from them and how you can help them. Then you have to give them the opportunity to achieve great things,” she said.
Good management is not about micro-managing and saying “you have to do this now”. It’s about being clear about what’s expected of them, how we can help them, and letting them give their best.”
Source: “ZDNet.com”