It takes effort to be an effective manager. If you are new to the role and have had little or no training, you will quickly realize that there is a distinction between being a great employee and managing great employees.
Here are five concepts that managers are likely to know but often overlook—what I call “neglected knowledge.”
- Figure out who’s who:
Know your team’s personalities as well as your own. My four playground personalities will assist you in accomplishing this. “What kind of kid was I on the playground?” inquire. The person who:
- Did you make certain that everyone had a chance to bat? The mediator.
- Did you make everyone line up and count off? The coordinator.
- Changed the rules in the middle of the game? The transformative.
- Do you want to play it my way? The steamroller was used.
Determine who is on your playground after you’ve determined your playground personality. Don’t ignore the warning signs. Body language, word usage, and intentions are all very clear.
Communication and collaboration are important to peacemakers. When others argue, a staff member’s eyes will bulge.
Organizers are methodical and decisive. An organizer is someone who comes to a meeting with charts or color-coded paper.
Revolutionaries despise routine and prefer to adapt to the circumstances of the moment. When you ask, “Where did that come from?” you’ll know you’re dealing with a revolutionary.
Steamrollers are intelligent and opinionated individuals who can solve complex problems. They take opposing viewpoints and maintain ideas at 30,000 feet.
- Be respectful:
Respect begins with the boss. A simple “hello” or “thank you” can go a long way. To demonstrate respect:
- Discuss ideas with peacemakers.
- Organizers should be given meaningful work with deadlines.
- Assign revolutionaries emergency tasks.
- Seek the advice of steamrollers.
- Face the facts:
Because not everyone gathers facts in the same way that you do, ask questions, be open to learning, and don’t close down discussions too quickly. When you think you have the facts, double-check.
- Look for the humor:
Humor should never be personal, but instead seek out the absurdity that pervades everyone’s workspace and use it to lighten the mood. Humor allows employees to relate to you and fosters camaraderie during difficult tasks.
- Put everything together:
Managers are compensated for completing tasks. If something goes wrong with your plan, don’t switch to plan B right away. Make use of different personalities and approaches to problems.
To read our blog on “How To leave virulent workplace while keeping your mental peace,” click here
