JeremyIf you have ever managed a group of people, you know that it can have its challenges. However, it does have its rewards. Whether you’ve managed a team for years or are just starting out, when you figure out how to bring different personalities together, your team can work even better than before.
To do so, you must have the wisdom to be a leader and a team member at the same time. This is the essence of servant leadership. Below, we have gathered a few quick tips to help you be an effective team manager.
Be the Example
The Golden Rule – “Treat others how you want to be treated” isn’t just for school kids. This rule applies here, too, as you are an example to your team members to help them learn and grow. There should not be one rule for you and another rule for the rest of the employees. It will only put distance between you and your team.
Try to lead by example in everything that you do; arrive to work on time, and show respect to your peers, regardless of their position or ranking in the company. Leading by example will help your team to follow suit, and that’s what you want when you’re trying to unite everyone. Plus, it helps when everyone pulls their own weight and doesn’t let their responsibilities fall on others.
Set Goals for Your Team
Setting goals is essential both as a team and for yourself. When managing a team, establishing goals to work towards can be a great way to get work done. Focus on what you’d like to achieve together and pinpoint specific goals for each individual after that. It’s essential to show that a person can work both by oneself and as a team. There will come times where unity is needed and others where team members will need to take their own initiative. This helps to create a more balanced team, one where everyone can be relied on equally to assist when needed.
Reward Hard Work
Rewarding hard and smart work is important because it inspires an individual to continue their hard work and inspire others to follow. If an employee comes up with an innovative, new way of doing things or creates efficiency, be sure to reward their efforts. Even if this reward is just showing your appreciation, complimenting work ensures that the person knows he/she did a great job. Recognition helps team members feel valued and benefit the rest of the team and the goals laid out for them.
Encourage Inclusivity
Not everyone feels confident to speak their ideas in a meeting. For some, it may only be a fear of saying the wrong thing. For others, it could be that coworkers are regularly taking over the conversation. Try to encourage inclusivity when it comes to sharing ideas so that you can get a well-balanced viewpoint of everyone involved. Be sure to also consider cultural and personality differences when seeking to build an inclusive workplace. These can be imperative when you’re trying to get thoughts on a potential product or a new campaign that you’re about to launch—the more diverse input you can have from your team, the better.
Managing a team takes hard work, ongoing personal and professional development, as well as trial and error to hone one’s craft, so don’t give up! If you need guidance on where to begin, feel free to set up a consultation with us today.