We talk a lot about lessons you need to learn before you can be a good manager, but what about things being a manager can teach you? Can you learn lessons from management you can carry over to other parts of your life?
The answer is yes, and furthermore, you can continue to apply those same lessons to your management style resulting in happy, productive employees. Below are five lessons from the managers at HajocaCareers.com that will help you at work and elsewhere.
1. As the old saying goes, you’ll catch more flies with honey. What this means is that it’s easier to get people to do what you want if you’re nice to them and give them something they want. In management speak, you’ll find that motivating people with praise and rewards is far more effective than using fear and negative consequences. Outside the workplace, this approach gets you better customer service and better relations with friends and family.
2. The quality of your staff is a reflection of the quality of your management. Some people think that in order to be a manager, they have to be involved in everything. In fact, good managing means good employees and good work flow, and those things all point to hands-off management. While some employees may require more supervision than others and you should always be available to answer questions or problem-solve, a good manager chooses good staff who are well-matched to their positions. Outside the workplace, it can also be a good idea to stand back and give people the room to do what they do best before stepping in to “manage” a situation.
3. As a corollary to the previous point, most people would rather be facilitated than managed. What this means is that most people would prefer to be given the tools to do the job they need to do and then allowed to do it in the way that works best for them rather than having something imposed upon them from above. In situations in and out of the workplace, try to get people what they need to do what they do best, and they will generally do good work.
4. Leading by example or modeling is the best way. Not only does this garner more respect among subordinates but it gives people a clear picture of how they should behave in various situations and difficult ones in particular. You can be a role model for people in and out of the workplace.
5. Communication is key, and communication has many components. It’s important to communicate clearly and often, keep the lines of communication open, avoid punishing people for communicating bad news and don’t be afraid to apologize. Admitting mistakes and moving on can be one important type of behavior to be modeled as discussed in point four. The communication that you learn as a manager will serve you well in nearly every walk of life.
