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The six top tips for good management

There are six points that have been recognised as the essence of good management.

Keep these techniques in mind as you develop a stronger working relationship with your employees.

  1. An effective boss builds an atmosphere of open communication. Open communication is a major factor in employee satisfaction. An employee must be able to approach and talk openly with their boss. An effective manager invites suggestions and even constructive criticism. Instead of waiting for the employee to initiate communication, they solicit feedback and discuss current problems and possible solutions. An exceptional manager cares about the employee and realises that worker feedback is critical for the productivity of the organisation.

  2. Trust is critical to a good working relationship. Are you honest and fair? Do you level with your employees, even when it might reflect negatively on you or the organisation? Do you follow through on promises? Do you take the time to evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses as well as the employee’s? The best bosses deal with their employees in the way in which they would like to be dealt themselves. An employee’s feeling about their work, no matter how insignificant, should be important to management. Deal fairly with each employee, not allowing favouritism or personality difference to affect judgment. When a worker trusts their boss, they are motivated to greater productivity, achievement and loyalty.

  3. A supportive environment motivates the employees. ‘We are a team; we work together,’ creates a sense of security for the employee. Workers should be openly appreciated when appropriate and constructively corrected - privately - when necessary. Problem solving is a mutual effort. A boss should be willing to use his or her influence and even go to bat for the employee with higher-ups when appropriate. Employees who have that kind of support rarely get into trouble, because they have the direction, information and tools they need in order to do their job. They also have self-confidence and do a good job, knowing the boss’s support is there like a safety net if they make an honest mistake. A supportive boss has compassion and empathy for his employees.

  4. A supportive boss has a genuine interest in workers as individuals. Good management takes the time to get to know each employee’s personality, needs, and goals and learns something about the employee’s personal life. Such bosses get the optimal performance from each person because they are able to bring out each employee’s unique abilities. The supervisor who is able to make their people feel important and personally significant, also generates the most productivity and loyalty.

  5. A good boss helps each employee reach his or her potential. Goal setting and career planning are integral in this process. As employees are encouraged their independence and responsibilities are increased. Creativity is stimulated as opposed to demanding adherence to rules and prescribed patterns.

  6. A good boss gives feedback. This is one of the most important aspects of an employee/boss relationship. Whether it comes from written evaluations, informal or formal discussions, or occasional memos, feedback should be given on a regular basis. How can employees know how they’re doing unless the boss tells them? A good supervisor makes sure his or her people get adequate and timely feedback on what they are doing - right or wrong. Bosses who recognise their employee’s accomplishments are usually far more effective than those who have a reputation for being tough on their employees. When unpleasant feedback must be given, it should focus on the inappropriate behaviour, not the person as an individual.

Techniques of good management

  • An effective boss builds an atmosphere of open communication
  • Trust is critical to a good working relationship
  • A supportive environment motivates the employees
  • A supportive boss has a genuine interest in workers as individuals
  • A good boss helps each employee reach his or her potential
  • A good boss gives feedback.

 

Jane Boucher is a best-selling author and professional speaker with offices in Ohio and Nevada, USA.

Jane’s latest book, ‘How to Love the Job You Hate’, is all about job satisfaction in the 21st century (ISBN 0-9679591-0-1).