August 14, 2021 5 minutes read
Entrepreneur contributors do not necessarily agree with the opinions expressed.
Managers can be similar to team management in that they need to set priorities, communicate goals and provide feedback. They also need to act as mentors. Managers must not only supervise their work but also ensure that they are supporting their team effectively.
You are not only ensuring managers produce quality work but you also set clear expectations. This includes observing the leadership of a team and giving feedback on their management skills.
A manager who is able to guide and support their team in their careers and improve their performance is a successful manager. It is not an easy task to manage managers and achieve that level of success. However, it can be done with mentorship, training, and empowerment.
I have more than 30 years experience in managing managers and teams. I know what works and what doesn't. These are seven tips that I have learned to help managers manage well.
1. Assist them in becoming leaders.
Managers are often chosen for their ability to do what they do well and not because they are good at leading. Your role as their manager is not to teach them how to be a leader but to help them become a manager. Coaching them in communication and presence is one example. This goes beyond one-on-one training. They will be watching you as you manage their lives. You should be the manager that others expect you to be.
Related: 10 Characteristics of Managers whose Teams are Happy to Come To Work
2. 2. Give managers a budget.
Managers need money to hire and cover the operating costs necessary for the department's goals, objectives, and purpose. You should give them a budget and let them manage it. Managers can propose budget increases as they grow their teams and brainstorm creative ways to improve performance and develop them.
3. Encourage and empower managers to recognize and take care of the top performers.
You don't want to lose talent in your organization so make sure that they are happy and well looked after. Benefits can include healthcare, food at the office, remote work policies, recognition, and pay. Our philosophy is to pay more than the market for those who do a great job. To ensure we are aware of the different compensation markets, we buy market data from around the world. We have many employees who have been with us for between 15 and 20 years. Despite Microsoft, Google and Apple trying to recruit them, most of them remain.
4. Respect their authority as a manager, and let them task their teams and establish deliverables.
You don't have to trust them blindly. Before you can let them manage, it is important to agree with them on the goals, objectives, as well as larger company values. You can then help them to prioritize their efforts and decide where to spend their time. You can help them prioritize high-value priorities and not on the easiest or quickest things.
5. Make sure they are aware of how you wish to be kept updated.
If you have your own preferred method of getting information from managers, don't expect them to create a new approach. It is also important that managers communicate with their direct reports on the information they prefer. To ensure that they are communicating effectively with their team, they should ask their direct reports the same question.
Related: What makes a good marketing manager?
6. Establish trust so that managers feel comfortable asking for your help.
You can demonstrate trust by sharing the above tips. This is a great way to gain managers' trust. Trusting you is essential, as they may not always know the answers. Encourage them to seek out your help for any problems they are facing, and not try to solve everything themselves. It will speed up their growth and help them achieve better business results by letting you know they can turn to you for assistance.
7. You must ensure they are able to distinguish between a people issue or simply misaligned.
Particularly first-time managers can fall prey to the temptation of misinterpreting their weaknesses as weakness. You can help them to bridge the gap, communicate effectively and distinguish between their areas of improvement and genuine people issues. As a coach, make sure they are guiding their team and, if necessary, making tough decisions.
Although there is no single way to manage managers effectively, it is important to have the ability to invest in them. This includes more than just spending money on them. It also means that you spend time developing their leadership skills. While it is important to allow managers to choose their own paths, it is equally important that you are there to support them at every step.
Related: 6 Tips to Hiring Your First Social Media Manager
