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Step 1
Know the difference between leadership and management. People have multiple definitions of leadership and management, and an entire article could be written on the difference, but I will focus on one major difference. Leadership involves setting the example, vision, and goals for your organization, while management involves more of the administrative and technical skills to ensure your organizational goals are accomplished.
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Step 2
Get to know your people. Part of being an effective manager means that you must understand your employees. Employees generally respond better when you have a professional interpersonal relationship with them. This does not mean socializing with them, but it means understanding who they are, their likes and dislikes, and their work styles. By knowing something about your personnel, you can manage their activities more effectively and efficiently.
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Step 3
Understand the rewards system. Managers should understand that a rewards system has its place in the workplace. Employees generally respond well to and are motivated by potential rewards. This does not have to be a monetary reward (although it could be), but it might be as simple as public recognition for a job well done. It may benefit you to know your personnel and what type of rewards they may appreciate.
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Step 4
Develop strong organizational skills. As a manager one of your key assets will be strong organizational skills. You should be able to know your schedule on a daily and weekly basis, and have a broad overview of your monthly schedule, including any one-time or recurring meetings you attend. It may be helpful to get familiar with and utilize various software applications, such as word processors, spreadsheets, databases, and presentation software. One of the most familiar application packages is Microsoft Office. These software applications can help you stay organized and keep up with daily and weekly activities, as well as deadlines.
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Step 5
Understand how to stay on schedule. One of the most important skills managers possess is the ability to complete a task on schedule. Whether you report to your customers or to upper-level management, schedules and deadlines exist in almost every business. Ensure you are able to stay focused on your organization’s goals and that you have periodic meetings with employees to determine if they are on track to help you meet your deadlines.
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Step 6
Develop strong interpersonal communications skills. Being able to communicate with employees and customers is a requirement for most managers. This is a cornerstone to making a business run and to leading and managing employees. Make sure you are clear when conveying information to the receiver of the information and that the receiver understands what you told him or her. Also be a good listener. When employees or customers are communicating with you, make sure you listen to them and understand what they are saying. If you are unsure, ask them to clarify.
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Step 7
Supervise. This is one of the most important steps for any manager. Managers cannot simply provide employees with a task and expect them to follow the guidance and complete the task on time with no problems. Occasionally this will happen, but oftentimes employees need supervision to ensure they are on track and to find out if they need help. Remember, as managers your job is not just to give orders. You may need to help your employees if you want them to succeed.
