5 Tips Managers Can Increase to Improve Themselves and Increase Employee Happiness

If you could gather the courage to tell your manager one thing s/he could do to improve the workplace for you and your colleagues, what would that thing be? Ok, I agree that most managers need to improve one or more aspect of their working style, but starting with the basic thing is probably the best.

Managers play a very important role in making the office a better workplace for people working under him/her. In case a manager does not have right knowledge, tools, or right attitude, the employees and consequently entire company will suffer. Therefore, whether you are the CEO, the MD or a fresh employee in the company, everyone wants the managers to keep improving and perform better.

Tips to Become a Better Manager:

Listening is Important

The most important characteristics of a good manager is to be a good listener. If you cannot talk and listen to your employees about what is and what isn’t going well, how will you take steps to improve them. When an employee feels he is being heard, he start believing that he matters. A good way to do this is to organize small stand-up meetings at regular intervals or by creating a feedback loop.

Share Your Vision

Manager usually have goals set for the entire year. They also keep a track of how the team is performing and how close the team is to reach the goal. Having this vision is important but sharing this with your team is even more important.

If you can share your vision with your team, you can explain them what is expected from each of them, and assist them in making and achieving short term goals in a better way. When a team knows your vision, they will even share their ideas with you. Help your team map out a plan for the next 3, 6, or 12 months.

Communication is the Key

One of the common complaints that most employees have from their manager is lack of proper communication. A manager who cannot communicate properly fails to explain what s/he expects from his or her employees. If you feel, you cannot communicate what you expect from your employees, work on it.

Start using emails to help an employee understand his or her role at work and make them believe that you are there to assist them whenever they need you.

Make Collaborative Goals

Once you have shared your vision with your employees, seek input from them to set goals for the year. You and your employees should work together to plan where you want to reach in 12 months. When the employee is given the power to help create the goals, he feel more responsible for reaching these goals.

Bond with the Team

A successful team is the one which works together. Teamwork is essential in order to reach goals and it is the duty of a good manager to bond the team together. Regular outings, Friday lunch or a simple interactive session work wonders to bring the team together and increase the bonding. The best way to do is to schedule it in advance. Also an informal team meeting every month (probably over lunch) helps breaking the ice and encourage people to discuss anything they want.