1. 5 WAYS TO BECOME A BETTER
MANAGER
LONDON MANAGEMENT CENTRE
2. A top manager’s responsibilities go beyond the work the team performs,
he/she has to be the backbone of a team. Motivating, encouraging personal
growth and helping with development as individuals all come under the
responsibilites of a great manager too. You must be able to analyse every
member for their strengths, weaknesses and to understand their personality.
This goes beyond simply reaching the companies goals, it involves shaping
team members individually and steering them onto a path that will develop
their talents.
Here are 5 quick tips that will help you become a manager that people look
up to, respect and trust.
3. ABILITY TO DRILL DOWN TO DETAIL
WHEN NEEDED
A good manager will have a keen eye for
detail as it is usually the small yet precise
observations that can have an impact. A
manager’s actions and decisions can have a
knock on effect for other people or for the
company, so when faced with a difficult
situation always take a step back and analyse
the details of the problem before reaching a
decision. Don’t jump to conclusions.
4. THREE LEVELS OF LISTENING
Listening is a major part of connecting with people, every
interaction is a 2-way street and listening to what people have to
say and listening to yourself is vital in establishing an
understanding of each other. Listening can be broken down into
3 levels:
• Internal Listening: This is described as listening to the
sound of your own inner voice. Where a person is physically
listening to what somebody else is saying but relating everything
to themselves, whether it be their own feelings, needs or
experiences.
• Focused Listening: This level of listening is where the
attention is directed one way, for instance in a coach and client
type interaction. The coach is directing all their attention to the
client because the client is the one that is needing the focus.
• Global Listening: Level 3 is where the listener focuses on
more than what is being said, so as well as the words this can
include emotion, body language and energy. The aim of this
level is to grasp a deeper understanding of the speaker by
picking up small details.
5. Managers and leaders should aim to connect with their employees on more than just a
basic level. Some of the best leaders around the world have a profound ability to
encourage their fellow colleagues to become the best that they can. Many managers
find that approaching tasks more hands on and being more involved in an employee’s
life is a good way to help them achieve. This is a great method, although the balance
between being hands on with people and giving them the room they need to succeed on
their own is a fine line and should always be kept balanced.
ENCOURAGING INDIVIDUAL GROWTH
AND CREATIVITY
6. People who are at the top of the ladder are the ones who tend to have the most authority, popularity
and influence. This power comes with responsibility and it is important to remember that the actions
of somebody at this level can have either a negative or positive effect on other people. This position
is great for a leader if they are always promoting the correct work ethic, attitude and values because
it will inevitably rub off on others. On the other hand, there are some bad managers who have bad
habits, who may be rude to people and who may not act professionally in every situation. This is
detrimental to both the team and organisation.
MENTORING
Mentoring (1-to-1) somebody that works for you is a great way to communicate with each other on a
more personal level. Studies have shown this is really effective when it comes to managing people
because of the personal aspect involved it makes the employee feel much more valuable to the
company. By working closely with the employee, you are making time to identify what their needs or
goals are, and how to solve them.
LEAD BY EXAMPLE