Of course, stating that it is important to effectively supervise people while holding general manager jobs is not the same thing as actually being able to manage them. But, do not assume that the ability to effectively manage people is some herculean task. There are aspects that are difficult to handle but they can be handled. The key here is to understand a few basic points on what is needed to effectively handle people in supervisory manager jobs. Here is a look at some of the most helpful tips:
Realize that a job of this nature revolves around dealing with and instructing people. Some will look towards being promoted into management but do not like the issue of dealing with people. These are two sides of the same coin that cannot be separated from one another. Those managers unable to work with people should not look towards management jobs because they will not be able to handle the job.
Understanding that different people come from different professional backgrounds and have varying degrees of skill is a must for successful management. This does not mean you simply sit back and take a perennially reactive approach to those that you are managing. That is not what is being promoted here. Rather, it is simply stated to point out that you need to be aware of the fact that not everyone may be within your framework of the perfect employee...and no one is!
Don't yell, raise your voice, or lose control of your temper. Displays of anger are the signs of a terrible manager...period. And quite honestly, displays of passive aggressive anger are equally signs of a bad manager. Yes, there will be instances where dealing with people and the common stress associated with management may be trying. However, if you are prone to exploding in anger, you probably will not last in management for long. Honestly, if you are reacting in anger at frequent intervals then you probably are not all that great of a manager to begin with. Your superiors will soon realize this and (rightfully) relieve you of your duties.
Try to delegate tasks as opposed to handling them all on your own. When you are not overwhelmed with your responsibilities, you probably be more inclined to deal with your personnel in a much more productive manner. This is because you will not be spread too thin which can always fray the nerves. And no, frayed nerves do not enhance your abilities to effectively deal with your subordinates.
Examine the strengths and weaknesses of your employees. If you are able to help guide your subordinates towards their strengths and diminish the tasks that highlight your weaknesses, you will find it a lot easier to manage subordinates when they are assigned to performing those tasks which they can excel at. Why put yourself and your employees in a tough position by not properly assigning them to the wrong tasks?
Modeling yourself against those top managers that have impressed you is certainly recommended. Traits and skills that are admirable should be duplicated. Conversely, it would be helpful to look towards avoiding duplicating the traits of those managers that have deficiencies. Looking at others through the lens of examining their skills or deficiencies can prove to be quite enlightening.
Are you confused as to how to improve your ability to handle supervisory manager jobs? If so you may wish to look towards helpful resources that cover the most effective ways to improve your skills. Even reading a few basic articles on the subject could prove helpful. Reading some of the best books published on the subject would be even better.
Many other steps can be employed to improve your abilities to be a successful manager. Quite frequently, you will have to tweak your approach to dealing with others. Experience is exactly that - experiential. You will have to modify how you do things based upon the feedback you receive performing the tasks of your job.
ManagerCrossing.com remains an excellent listing resource for jobs of this nature. Those with manager experience are highly advised to check it out.
