6 Traits of Effective Managers

When your business is large enough to require a manager, or managers, the importance of training those managers in how to manage people effectively is critical to your business success.

Delegating authority and knowledge to a level closest to the employees is the most effective way to manage your people and protect your businesses from unwanted liability.

Are people born managers? Not likely. Managing people is a learned skill that either requires time, or knowledge, or both. Small business often promotes managers from employees, so on-the-job training is the only solution, and not the most ideal.

There are five primary goals of a manager in relation to employees

• Creative a Cohesive and Productive Workforce
• Create Confidence in Employment Decisions
• Reduce Employer Liability
• Comply with State and Federal Laws
• Manage Risk

People Management

Being a good manager requires an understanding of and a devotion to human development. A good manager makes the clear transition from employee and begins to develop specific skills that grow a team, a department, a business.

The majority of a manager’s job should be managing people and setting an example that employees will look up to. All eyes are watching the manager and soon figure out if they are competent and effective.

We break down the 6 most important areas your managers should be proficient in, and what the steps are to get there.

Delegation and Collaboration

Being a good leader involves leading, but not pushing. To do this, managers need to focus on delegating tasks effectively and then work to encourage teamwork and collaboration. Great managers don’t try and do it all themselves, but they also must roll up there sleaves and be willing to support the team.

Communication Skills

Communication starts with the ability to send a clear message to employees and set realistic expectations for any given task or process. Communication is two-way so managers must also be great listener and be fully approachable. Great communicators always turn problems into challenges.

Team Building

It is the Team Leader’s job to encourage the team and keep them focused on the goal. Making sure lines of communication are open and being used effectively to collaborate and work efficiently and effectively. Great managers help team members bond and prevent lone wolfs from withdrawing.

Performance Management

Managing performance is both a team and an individual process. In some cases, teams need to be recognized and awarded for their efforts, and in some cases, individuals need to be shown special appreciation, sometimes publicly and sometimes quietly. Good managers know when to use either.

Difficult People & Situations

Dealing with difficult people is just a reality in our modern day. Whether it’s mediocre performance, or bad behavior, managers must identify the problem and move toward an effective solution quickly. Through counseling, coaching and disciplinary action, managers need to understand how to correct bad performance.

Basic HR 101 Compliance

When we say “HR 101” we’re talking about basic labor laws that affect the workplace. Managers can prevent employer liability when they understand the basics regarding:

• Meal and rest breaks, time off the clock
• Employee attendance and leaves of absence
• Sexual Harassment, discrimination, and hostile work environment
• Wage issues including overtime, salary exempt/non-exempt, final paychecks

Most lawsuits and labor claims begin in one of these 5 areas. Simple mistakes can be exploited by attorney’s seeking a quick settlement and a nice paycheck. When managers make the right decisions in these areas, the business benefits form a protective shield from claims and lawsuits.

Managers Need Training

There is a lot of information that managers must know. Most managers were once just employees. There isn't a magic moment where they are fully equipped to be a manager and carry out your company's vision and meet your goals and objectives. Training managers should be a priority as the economy becomes more challenging to navigate.

Infinium HR provides free manager training and will be hosting a manager training webinar in the coming weeks. Be on the lookout for more information, but in the meantime, please tell us how we can help you with your management training.