Greeting to all,
Here is an interesting article I recieved from Alan and so sharing the same with you all.
So here are some tips on how to " behave like a manager ".
Tip 1.
Be consistent.
One thing people seem to value in their managers is
consistency, knowing where they stand. They don't like managers who are moody - approachable one day and prickly the next. Of course, if you're going to be consistent, it would be better to be approachable all the time rather than prickly all the time. Tip 2.
Don't have favourites.
This is linked to Tip 1. Treat everyone the same, don't
have favourites. Or, more specifically, don't be perceived as having favourites. Perception is reality, as they say. This is particularly
true in management, when the people you manage may interpret your actions is ways which surprise you. You need to be particularly careful to be seen to be treating everyone equally. For example, when allocating work, allowing time off. Tip 3.
Don't shout, swear, or have tantrums.
Just because you're a manager, it doesn't mean you're no
longer a human being. You will still have frustrations and things will tax your patience. But you need to manage your emotions. When you're a manager, people are watching your behaviour.
They expect you to be a role model in many ways ( see Tip 4 }. And they want you to behave consistently ( see Tip 1 ). So they don't want to see you coming in, slamming the door, cursing the person who cut you up on the way into work and generally behaving like a bear with a sore head ( or even a manager with a sore head ). One of the sacrifices you make when you're a manager is
that you can't just behave exactly as you want, you've got to think about the impression you're making on other people. Tip 4.
Be a role model for the behaviour you want from others.
I've worked for two types of managers. One type saw it as a
responsibility, they were the ones who would turn up early and leave late when necessary, who would always be there when difficult things had to be done. They led by example, they showed the behaviour they expected from others. The other type seemed to think that, now they were managers,
they had " made it ". In other words, they could pass on all the pressure ( and the unwanted tasks ) to other people. I actually had a headteacher once who used to listen to the
racing in his office in the afternoons because, in his mind, he'd done his bit and being the Head was his reward for years of working for a living. It was the Deputy Head who was there to do all the work. My wife has also worked for managers like this, when she
worked at a bank. There were some who routinely took all the days off around Bank Holidays or Christmas and made sure they blocked out their days off on the holiday rota before anyone else got a look at it. If you want the people who work for you to behave in a
certain way, model that behaviour yourself. Tip 5.
Don't join in gossip.
Like it or not, if you're a manager of any kind, you
represent the organisation you work for. You're a leader, a role model ( as I mentioned above ). People don't expect to see you joining in gossip ( and certainly not starting it ). If you hear other people gossiping, about the organisation or about the people in it, don't join in and don't encourage it. Be as open as you can with people, let them know what's
going on and what's planned so there's less space for gossip. But it will still happen, it's pretty much human nature, just don't be a part of it. Tip 6.
Similarly, don't criticise other people ( or the
organisation ) publicly. There are times, as a manager, when you should keep your
opinions to yourself. Never criticise someone who works for you in front of their colleagues and refrain from joining in any moaning about the organisation. You may be tempted to let people know if you actually agree with their comments, but in the long run it tends to undermine your authority and respect. Tip 7.
Since I've mentioned respect, as a general approach, go for
being respected rather than liked. Most people I've come across prefer to work for someone
they respect. They don't necessarily have to like their managers but they do need to respect them in order for everyone to work together well. How do you get respect? By doing some of the things I've
already mentioned - be consistent, treat people fairly and equally, show that you're prepared to behave the way you want others to behave, etc. Tip 8.
Don't try to be " one of the gang ".
This is one of the hardest things for new managers to work
out, how to walk that line between being " friendly " and being " the boss ". As I've said, aim to be respected first. People are looking for a lead from you, they know you're the manager and not " one of the gang ". They expect certain things from you. Of course you should be friendly and approachable but accept
you're not just one of the team, you're a leader. Someone on a workshop asked, " How friendly is too
friendly? " I don't think there's a clear answer to that, you need to make your own judgements. But I've touched on a few things - e.g. don't join in gossip, don't criticise the organisation to people who work for you. If your team are going out for a drink after work, should
you go with them? Of course, it depends on whether they've asked you! But, if they do, should you go? I'm not saying that you shouldn't, you don't want to be seen as aloof or uninterested in them as people. But you may decide only to do it occasionally, not every time they go out. And you still need to watch how you behave and what you say when you are out with them. |
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