An average manager always puts the customer first. He seeks to improve the company's bottom line by calculating quarterly and annual figures and looking for why these numbers were as they were. He celebrates successful times and measure his own success by his most successful subordinate. He tries to have more answers than questions and solves problems by using his "common sense." What does, however, make a really good manager? Quite the opposite! Geoffrey James, popular author of management tips, writes about this in an interesting article on Inc.com. He recommends managers the following principles:
1. Put your employees first
Nobody else but your employees create your customer experience. A manager should take care of their happiness, health and ability to perform their job.
2. Don't calculate history but the present time
To achieve better numbers in the future, you have to focus on what is happening in your market, your industry and your company at the present time.
3. Celebrate bad times
Motivating employees in challenging times is not only more difficult but also more important than in good times. Search for ways to have fun and keep your people successful despite the difficulties.
4. Measure your success by the weakest subordinate
The worst employee clearly shows what his manager is willing to tolerate in his team. The biggest art of management, therefore, lies in managing employees who don't provide enough performance.
5. Feel free to have more questions than answers
A good manager doesn't have to have all the answers. And even if he had them, he should ask his people questions and let them think independently.
6. Don't trust your common sense
Your common sense is not the only thing a manager should follow. Above all, he should know his people and their interests, try to get the very best from the team. And that is no more a common sense but applied psychology.
-kk-