How To Be A Role Model At Work? 6 Tips For Managers

If an organization is to run smoothly and sustainably, people need to be at the right place for the right reasons. Bound by their responsibilities and with the best interest of the company at heart, managers are expected to have the ability to make all the right decisions and act accordingly. What’s more, they need to set a strong example for others. To bring out your full potential as a manager, learn how to be a good role model for your team through the tips listed below. But before that let’s understand what does it mean to be a positive role model at work.

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How To Be A Role Model At Work? 6 Tips For Managers
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What is a Role Model in the Workplace?

No one-size-fits-all answer to this question exists, as “role models” can mean different things to different people. For some, a role model is someone they aspire to be like. Someone who is successful and has a lot of admirable qualities. For others, a model might be someone they know personally. A friend or family member who they look up to and respect. A role model in the workplace is someone who employees can look up to for guidance, support, and mentorship. It is an employee in an organization who is admired by others for their abilities, achievements, and qualities. They are often company leaders who plan company activities and have a wealth of experience they can share with others. Some of the most famous leaders we have learned from have often credited their success to inspiration from their role models. Check some examples of great role models below:

Satya Nadella

Tim Cook

Oprah Winfrey

Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, cites Mahatma Gandhi as a role model for his leadership style. Nadella emphasizes principles such as empathy, humility, and the focus on the greater good, inspired by Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence and service to others.

Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, has mentioned Robert F. Kennedy as a role model for his commitment to social justice, civil rights, and advocacy. Cook admires Kennedy’s ability to lead with a strong sense of purpose.

Oprah Winfrey often credits the renowned poet and author Maya Angelou as a mentor and guiding influence in her life. Angelou’s wisdom and guidance were instrumental in Oprah’s personal and professional development.

The critical thing to understand is that when an individual or group chooses someone to be their role model, it is because the person being called the role model embodies the values, qualities, behavior, positive attitude, hard work, and persistence they want to emulate.

What are the Characteristics of a Positive Role Model in the Workplace?

A good role model has a lot of qualities embodied in them. The 5 main qualities they are usually known for are:

Role Models are Passionate About Their Work

Role models not only have a great work ethic, but they are also passionate about their work. People who are passionate about their work tend to take it more seriously and put in more effort. It often results in better quality work and more success. Passion is contagious. When someone sees that their model has perseverance and is passionate about their work, it also encourages them to be passionate. It creates a domino effect, where others become inspired by the role model’s passion and are driven to achieve even more.

Role Models are Authentic in Their Interactions

Role models are authentic in their interactions. They don’t put on a persona for the public. They are genuine in their interactions with other people, and they stay true to themselves. People can tell when someone is being fake, and they don’t get inspired by untrue shows of passion. The key lies in ensuring authenticity in every instance and interaction with the team. People often look to role models as a way to find authenticity in their lives. A role model is admired and looked up to because they are real and honest. Hence, remember that positive role models share their vulnerabilities and talk about their mistakes. They do not put forward a picture of perfection. Instead, accept mistakes as they come and be prepared to be human. This makes you more relatable and people feel like they can connect with them.

Role Models are Supportive in Their Work

Role models make you feel supported. They help you believe in yourself and give you the strength to achieve your goals. We often turn to these models for inspiration and support as we navigate through life. There are many ways in which role models do support their followers:

They can help them set goals and achieve their dreams
They can also provide them with support and encouragement when they need it most
Role models can help them learn new things and grow as individuals

Positive Role Models Encourage Others

Role models encourage and motivate people to achieve their goals. Good role models provide encouragement and support, and they help you stay on track when you feel like giving up. They also teach you how to handle difficult situations and make good decisions. A positive role model at work can help you improve and achieve your goals. We often look to role models for guidance and encouragement, especially when making crucial life decisions. They help us to believe in ourselves and our abilities. They also provide practical advice and feedback, which is invaluable when improving our skills. Ultimately, good role models encourage us to become the best possible versions of ourselves.

Role Models are Inspiring

A good role model at work can be the ultimate source of inspiration and encouragement. Through their actions and attitudes, role models can enable positive change significantly. Think of the various individuals who made you take the leap of faith – the teachers who gave the nudge or instances where your parent showed you that challenges are not the end – such figures in a professional setting are a great resource. By being a manager who can inspire others similarly, your impact stays even after you are present. For instance, while talking about manager stories, Pavan Varma, the founder of Orgzit, revealed that he found great inspiration in his colleague and mentor, Tom Mendoza. Tom’s stories, often centered around high-stakes situations like sports and wars, profoundly impacted him. These narratives highlighted the immense responsibility of captains and leaders, where a mistake could result in significant losses for the entire team. Through Tom’s stories, Pavan learned the importance of inspiring team members and how it can benefit the company. Based on these ideas, Pavan gathered the importance of inspiration and some great ways to inspire others, which he implemented promptly at his own venture.

Why Should Managers Become Good Role Models at Work?

Managers are majorly considered role models, whether they like it or not. Research backs the idea that newly promoted supervisors model their manager’s behavior, whether good or bad. Employees observe how managers treat others, make decisions, and react under pressure. They then try to replicate that behavior, thinking it is the optimum way. All this happens unconsciously. A manager’s job is to lead and motivate their team. To do that, they must be good role models for their team members. If team members see their manager working hard and caring for their work, they will likely want to do the same. As a result, becoming a good role model is critical for a manager to become an effective manager and build high-performing teams following in your footsteps. By being a model as a manager, you can create a positive team that deals with every adversity with positivity and in a responsible manner and gets the work done with full potential. It ensures that a positive and standard culture is present to guide your team in times of trouble. Most importantly, team members will be more likely to trust their manager and follow their lead if they know the manager is someone they can admire. An authentic leader can effectively build loyalty among their team members. A manager’s ability to become a role model for their team decides if they can become a good manager and a good leader.

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How to be a Good Role Model at Work? 6 Tips for Managers

Practice What You Preach

The not-so-straightforward process of being a positive role model at work starts when a manager behaves the way they want their team to. If you want your team to remain accountable for their tasks, the first step is building and demonstrating accountability for the things you handle. This can help to build trust and create a positive work environment. All that will ultimately make the manager a positive role model for their team.

Be Patient and Understanding With Your Team

One of the most important things a manager can do to become a role model is to be patient and understanding with their employees. It means setting a good example for them to follow and taking the time to listen to them and help them when needed. When things get tough, it can be tempting to lash out at employees. However, this will only damage your chances of becoming their ideal model. It will also make it difficult for them to perform well. Instead, take a deep breath and try to remain calm. Communicate openly with employees, and be understanding of any problems they may be facing. By being patient and understanding, you will build trust with your employees and be able to help people when needed.

Take the Time to Listen to Them and Understand Their Concerns

Employees want to feel like their concerns are heard and that they have a voice in the company. They also want to see their managers taking the time to listen to others and set a good example. If you want your employees to emulate the best qualities of you as a manager by seeing you as a role model, then you need to take the time to listen to them and understand employee concerns. When employees feel like they can approach their manager with any issue or concern, big or small, they’ll be more likely to trust and respect the manager. And that’s what will make them want to do their best work for the manager and see him or her as a role model. Learn more about this crucial skill here: 7 Steps To Master Active Listening For Managers

Develop a Positive Work Culture

A positive work culture is key to having a productive, successful team. When team members feel appreciated and supported, they are more likely to do their best work. As a manager, it’s important to take the time to develop a positive work culture and be an example for your team members. It starts with simple steps like taking breaks when needed and helping others whenever you can. If you as a manager want yourself to become the role model of your team members, you need to set the bar high. Show them that you care about your work and that you’re always willing to put in the extra effort. Be supportive, communicative, patient, and most importantly, lead by example. Read more about the importance of a good company culture here: Proven culture hacks you have always been looking for

Coach, Guide, and Encourage Your Employees When They Need it

Your employees are looking up to you as their role models. They want to be like you, and they want to be able to do the things that you can do. But sometimes, they may feel like they can’t do everything that you can. This is where you come in as their coach. You need to be there to encourage them and guide them when they need it. You need to be the one who helps them to see the potential that they have, and the potential that they can reach. You need to be the one who helps them to be their best selves.

Stay Up-to-date With Changes in The Industry or Your Field of Work

To be a good role model, you need to stay up-to-date with the changes in the industry or their field. This is not an easy task because it takes a lot of time and effort to stay on top of all the changes that are happening in the world. Still, it is necessary to stay updated for becoming a good role model at work and to make sure that you are meeting the expectations of your organization and your employees or team members. You must be seen as an expert in the area of your work. If not, you will not hold any credibility in your team’s eyes.

Conclusion

Being a manager, it’s time to start being a good role model for your team. A good role model is someone who sets an example and teaches their team the right things, both in and out of the office. With this in mind, we have listed six tips for managers to become good role models for their employees. We believe that if managers can follow all these tips and if they can develop the 5 listed qualities of a good role model, the chances of them becoming the role model of their employees will shoot for the highest.

Deeksha Sharma

Deeksha, with a solid educational background in human resources, bridges the gap between your goals and you with valuable insights and strategies within leadership development. Her unique perspectives, powered by voracious reading, lead to thoughtful pieces that tie conventional know-how and innovative approaches together to enable success for management professionals.

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Why Do Managers Need Guidance Ability To Become Effective Leaders?

Guidance is something that all humans need. We need guidance when we are lost. We need it when we are trying to figure out what our life goals are. Also when we are trying to find a partner, or even when we want to choose the best ice cream flavor. Guidance is an important part of life and it helps us get on track and stay on track with our personal and professional lives. Similarly, getting the right guidance is very important for any individual to grow and succeed. At the workplace, this responsibility of guidance goes into the hands of managers. Therefore, it is important for managers to have a strong guidance ability. This blog post will take managers on the right path of effectively developing the ability to guide. But before that, it is important to understand what does guidance ability means. So, let’s cover that first.

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What does guidance ability mean?

The guidance refers to advise or information provided by a person of experience to solve a problem or improve something. It also refers to the process of assisting individuals in discovering and developing their potential. To put it in other words, it is a process of personal assistance given by someone to assist a person in determining where he want to go, what he wants to do, and how he can best achieve his mission. It assists him in solving problems that arise in his life. Guidance ability is the ability to guide a person or a group in a certain direction which may lead them towards their goals. It is a part of leadership skills refers to the ability of a person to guide his or her group towards achieving their goals whether this involves motivating the individuals in your organization or steering the entire team into reaching its desired results. This is done by providing the right direction, motivation, and support. At the workplace, it refers to the way managers guide their employees, team members, or subordinates by providing and counseling them in the right direction. This ability is in the form of a set of behaviors that allow managers to give guidance instead of simply expecting their employees to act in a certain intended direction.

Guidance ability is one of the four components of manager effectiveness, learn more about them here.

Why is Guidance Ability important for a manager at the workplace?

There are 6 reasons why Guidance ability is important for managers.

Better performing employees

The ability to guide helps to ensure that employees are performing their tasks at an acceptable level, meeting deadlines, and maintaining quality standards. This will help managers with a higher chance of getting their expectations fulfilled. If any individual is not performing up to the mark, then managers can guide them to bring their performance to the expected levels. In a nutshell, you end up keeping your team’s performance high.

Makes it easy to address problems

Guidance ability allows managers to identify and address any problems or issues that may be arising in the workplace. They can then prevent them from becoming more serious or chronic over time. This will help you with a higher chance of building efficient work relationships in their organization and effectively avoiding uncertainties. They can also minimize problems to a good extent.

Develops the right working habits in employees

By providing clear instructions and/or guidance, managers can help employees develop working habits that are conducive to effective and efficient performance. Managers with guidance ability can guide their employees on how to organize tasks, prioritize, and plan ahead on what needs to be done next. This will help them stay focused on the task at hand and not get distracted by other things that might come up during the day. This can bring more profitability and more productivity to the team.

Keeps employees up-to-date

Guidance ability can ensure that employees are up-to-date with changes in company policy or procedures. Managers can help to ensure that they comply with relevant regulations and maintain good standards of workplace hygiene. This will be a good step towards employees complying with all relevant workplace rules. Also, this will help you with a higher chance of getting their employees to perform more professionally for the company’s betterment and success.

Builds trust and confidence

Being able to guide employees effectively also helps to build trust and confidence between them and their manager. That may lead to improved morale and better teamwork overall. Further, it will help managers with a higher chance of having well-informed and motivated employees who can contribute to the company effectively.

Helps in goal setting

Guidance Ability can also help in goal setting by providing employees with direction and guidance. Managers can help their employees set goals that align with the company’s targets to faithfully achieve them. Also, this will be a good step in ensuring better performance from your workforce and thus, more profitability for the organization. All these reasons show how guidance ability is important for managers to become effective in their job.

The 4 core ingredients of Guidance Ability for managers

The 4 key areas of guidance ability do include:

Role modelling

Being a role model for the team is an essential part of guiding a team as a manager. To effectively guide the team into certain behaviors and practices, managers will have to be role models themselves while showcasing the same behaviors and practices. This means showing and demonstrating what your desired employee conducts are at the workplace. A manager who is a role model effectively directs employees on what is expected of them at the workplace. They set the right examples of company values. They are looked upon by the team as an expert who can help them when they are stuck. Being a role model means that managers “demand” the right behaviors, skills, and performance by demonstrating it themselves. In nutshell, show and not tell. Being a role model as a manager includes –

Being revered as an example to be looked at
Leading and guiding in times of uncertainty and urgency
Being An expert in the area of work
Being a trusted figure in the organization

Facilitate Collaboration

A manager’s ability to effectively collaborate with employees and make them collaborate within themselves at the workplace is an essential aspect of developing a sound guidance ability. This enables them in sharing their ideas, experiences, and knowledge effectively. Hence, it is likely to lead managers to further the growth of the organization. How does it help? It simply makes the team more self-reliant. It prevents the manager from becoming the decision-making and execution bottleneck. Facilitating collaboration as a manager covers:

Connecting with different team members to be collaborative
Helping team members to identify and acknowledge each other’s strengths and weaknesses
Creating situations for team members to help each other
Developing inter self-reliance in team members
Providing opportunities for team members to share their ideas and thoughts
Creating a culture of sharing among team members

Nurturance

Formulating a strong, nurturing work environment is regarded as an essential aspect of developing and improving the guidance ability of managers. Nurturance helps managers to guide employees by forming relationships with them along with providing support in their development. Furthermore, it also helps them in keeping employees motivated in times of challenges at the workplace. As a result, the team knows that there is someone supporting them at each step and that builds trust. Some nurturance acts suitable for managers include:

Helping understand roles and responsibilities better
Help identify development areas
Develop job competence
Provide coaching for newcomers
Encourage change
Helping team members recognize and acknowledge each other’s strengths/weaknesses

Feedback

After meeting the above-mentioned essential aspects of developing and improving a manager’s guidance ability, they need to understand how to offer constructive feedback. For managers, feedback is the key to guiding their employees and helping them grow. Moreover, it helps them in encouraging improvement and development among their employees as well as identifying areas for growth more effectively. Giving feedback is the opportunity to recognize the good things that the team member is doing. It is also an opportunity to work with them to identify improvement areas. Giving constructive feedback includes:

Giving corrective feed-forward
Focusing on task and behavior rather than a person
Having genuine care
Not making comparisons
Being credible

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What can a manager do to develop Guidance ability? 5 simple steps

There are 5 simple steps that a manager can take to develop Guidance ability:

Understand what is guidance

Understand the different aspects of guidance and how they play into an individual’s ability to be an effective manager. This understanding will provide you with clarity over what path you need to take. Also, this will help you to assess the gaps in what you are doing and what is still missing.

Address the gaps

Address any gaps in your understanding by attending relevant training or workshops. These workshops or training can be extremely valuable as they provide you with insights on the different aspects that make a manager an effective guide. Alternatively, you can work with a human or an AI coach to help you become better in areas that you must develop. P.S. you can start a free conversation with Merlin now.

Encourage thoughts

Encourage employees to share their thoughts and ideas with you, as this will help improve communication within the team. The improved communication will make the guidance more efficient. Moreover, by encouraging their thoughts, you will establish a sense of belonging in the employees and they’ll end up being more motivated and devoted towards their jobs.

Show that you care

Show genuine care for your employees and be a guide who helps them reach their full potential. This will allow you to gain their respect and trust. Further, this trust and respect will help you to improve your guidance ability in the long term.

Be consistent

Being a guide means being consistently approachable and fair to your employees. Make them believe you genuinely care for them as well as want them to reach their full potential. In return, they will be more receptive to any ideas you have with regards to improving their performance or finding solutions when problems should arise over time. Thus you’ll be able to guide them easily. When you do this day in day out, it becomes a natural habit for you. Consistency in your efforts will make or break it.

How to avoid the fine line between Guiding someone and Micromanaging them?

Keep in mind, there is a fine line between guiding someone and micromanaging them. Micromanaging is when someone tells you what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. It is not a good way of getting things done because it makes the person feel like they are not in control of their own life. Guiding someone means that you tell them what needs to be done but let them figure out how to do it themselves. As a result, they are more likely to be invested in the task at hand and work harder at completing it. Moreover, the key to avoiding the fine line between guiding someone and micromanaging them is to create a clear set of objectives. This way, you can provide guidance and help while still letting them do their job. It is important to know what they are good at and what they need help with. Once that is clear, one can provide the necessary guidance in a way that will not be seen as micromanaging. It is also important that you don’t give too much advice or instructions without making sure that they understand what their goals are. Take the free micromanagement assessment by Risely to ensure that you are not mixing up the two! Get started now to save your team from the travails of a micromanager.

Conclusion

Managing people is one of the most important tasks any manager has to take on. So, to be successful, they need to have a clear understanding of their employees and be able to provide them with guidance and direction to reach the goals they have set for themselves. It’s essential that managers have a strong guidance ability, so they can effectively communicate with their team and help them reach their full potential. In this blog post, we thoroughly explained guidance ability and its core ingredients. We also provided steps on how you can develop these essential skills for managers. We believe that if managers are willing to follow these steps, they can very effectively develop the ability to guide.

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How do managers provide support and guidance?

Managers can provide support and guidance to their teams through multiple avenues. The key listening and understanding the training needs of your team. Moreover, the same type of support may not work for all. While a manager can turn into a mentor for some employees, a few might need professional training through expert-guided seminars or AI-based coaching too.

What is the importance of guidance in leadership?

Becoming a guide helps leaders cultivate a healthy relationship with their team members. In addition to mutual understanding, the role of a mentor or a guide also solidifies the position of a manager as an influential person. In addition, it helps leaders develop the right set of skills and knowledge needed by their team.

How do you provide guidance to employees?

The key to providing guidance to employees lies in being an approachable manager who the team members can go to whenever they face any challenges at work. In addition, managers also need to develop a nurturing attitude toward the team to ensure that they are contributing to their growth.

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Improving Employee Engagement As A Manager: 7 Simple Hacks

Employee engagement is a critical yet often undervalued component of an organization’s success. Happy and engaged employees are more productive and creative and can help drive the company forward. Unfortunately, there are no blueprints or easy solutions when it comes to improving employee engagement. It takes hard work, dedication, and sincere effort from both employees and management to improve employee engagement. However, there are certain things that managers can do in their span of control to set their teams on the right track. Managers play a key role in creating an environment that is conducive to high employee engagement. We present seven simple but extremely effective hacks for managers that they can use for improving employee engagement in their workplace. Let’s dig in.

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Employee Engagement in simple terms

Employee engagement is a measure of how connected employees feel to their work and their organization. When employees are engaged, they feel enthusiastic about their work, connected to their co-workers, and committed to the organization’s goals. Nowadays, this concept of employee engagement is enjoying popularity. Some organizations appoint an employee engagement manager for in the HR department. They also have a specified employee engagement strategy for their organizations which these engagement managers try to carry out. Employee engagement has a direct impact on an organization’s performance. It also has a direct impact on employee experience. Engaged employees are more productive and creative, and they are less likely to leave the company. It is the process of building, maintaining, and sustaining a fruitful corporate culture that enhances organizational effectiveness. Many factors contribute to employee engagement, but the most important one is the relationship between employees and their managers. Employees who have a positive relationship with their manager are more likely to be engaged. Similarly, there are many ways to improve employee engagement, but the most important factor is always the leadership team’s commitment to the issue. To understand what can good employee engagement bring to the organization, let’s just go through the benefits that come with it.

The benefits of improving employee engagement

I can go on and on about the benefits of good employee engagement. But for simplicity let’s look at some of the most important ones.

When employees are engaged, they are more likely to go the extra mile for their company

When employees are engageed they are more likely to be productive and to stick around for the long term

Engaged employees are also less likely to leave their jobs, meaning that companies don’t have to spend time and money recruiting and training new employees

Engaged employees are also more likely to be innovative and creative, which can lead to positive changes within the company

They are also more likely to be brand ambassadors and to recommend the brand to others, which is a huge boon for the company’s reach

Accordingly, engaged employees work better in teams and are more likely to come up with unique ideas that can change their industry as well as society at large

How can you measure employee engagement?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to measure employee engagement will vary depending on the organization’s specific needs and culture. However, there are several ways to measure employee engagement that are used widely. and are also proven effective for the majority. These ways include:

One way is to use engagement surveys. These surveys ask employees questions about how they feel about their job, their company, and their co-workers. Surveys can be given to all employees or just a selected group

Another way to measure employee engagement is to look at employee turnover rates. High turnover rates can be a sign that employees are not engaged with their work

One single metric of measuring employee engagement is Employee Net Promoter Score aka. eNPS. It is a measure of how likely are the employees to refer their organizations in their network. If they feel engaged, they are more likely to refer their company as a workplace to others

Finally, you can also look at employee productivity data. This data will tell you how well employees are working and how much impact their work has on the company’s bottom line. That will ultimately give you a clear idea of their engagement levels

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How to improve employee engagement? 7 effective hacks for managers

1. Celebrate employee achievements

The first step towards improving employee engagement is celebrating employee achievements. Companies that celebrate their employees’ achievements, be it small or large, tend to have a more engaged workforce. Whether it’s awarding summary points for excellent work, issuing formal accolades at an annual staff meeting, or simply acknowledging someone with a thank-you or congratulations email. All of these types of celebrations boost morale and engagement. This hack is particularly effective when implemented throughout an organization as it shows employees that the company values and respects their hard work. Managers can try a recognition program every month which recognizes outstanding performances and it can also announce employees’ career advancement if any.

2. Foster an open dialogue with your team

Fostering open dialogue between managers and employees is key to improving employee engagement. Open communication allows for better communication of expectations, understanding of individual performance, as well as coordination of tasks. It also creates a sense of trust and transparency within the team which can lead to increased productivity. To foster an effective dialogue:

Make sure that all internal communication is written down to ensure accuracy
Regularly schedule one-on-one meetings with team members to discuss their performance and perceived challenges

3. Teach employees Continuous Improvement Tools

There is a huge gap between what an employee thinks they can achieve and their actual productivity. Allowing your employees to learn how to improve will help them better understand where improvements may lie. That might be getting lost during the application of traditional management practices. You can push them to use tools like PBI’s dashboards, weekly goal planning sessions, self-assessment questionnaires, or any other employee engagement software or mobile app. This will have a huge impact on employee engagement as it encourages a forward-thinking mindset that can lead to higher productivity.

4. Have proper communication with your team

To keep your employees engaged, you need to have proper communication with them. There are a few ways to improve communication with your team:

The first is to be open and honest with them. Employees need to feel that they can trust their managers

The second is to make sure that all employees feel comfortable communicating with their managers. Employees should feel free to ask questions and share their thoughts and ideas

Third, make sure that you are regularly communicating with them. This could be through team meetings, one-on-ones, or even group chats

Another way to improve communication is to create a communication plan. This plan should outline how you communicate and to whom

5. Encourage Contribution across all aspects

To improve employee engagement, managers should encourage employees to contribute in all aspects. Employees should have a say in every small to a big aspect of the business. By doing so, managers can create a culture of engagement where employees feel that they have a stand and responsibility in the organization. The best ways to do it is by:

giving employees a voice in the decision-making
providing opportunities for training and development
recognizing their achievements

6. Encourage creativity and innovation

Encouraging employees to be creative and innovative is one of the best ways to improve engagement. By encouraging your team members, you’re providing a stimulating environment in which they can experiment with new ideas and improve their skillset. This hack is also beneficial because it leads to increased productivity. To encourage creativity and innovation:

Encourage team members to try new ideas
Reward teams that come up with innovative solutions
Provide feedback and support for team members’ ideas
Be comfortable with failure
Encourage creativity in the workplace through fun activities, contests, etc.

7. Encourage employee feedback

Encouraging employees to provide feedback is another important way to improve employee engagement. By allowing team members the opportunity to voice their concerns and suggestions, you’re ensuring that they feel engaged in their work. Further, constructive feedback also provides increased insight into individual performance, which can help managers make better decisions. To encourage employee feedback:

Make it easy for team members to submit feedback
Provide avenues for team feedback sessions
Encourage team members to provide feedback about their work, as well as that of their colleagues
Make it a priority to respond to feedback promptly

Conclusion

The hacks outlined in this article have proven to be highly effective for increasing employee engagement. In addition, by implementing these strategies into your office culture and corporate values you will see a significant increase in productivity and morale among all of your team members. We believe that if managers can incorporate these simple hacks in their workplace, employee engagement in their workplace will never go below the standards. They will be directed towards their undoubtedly upcoming growth.

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How To Build A Rapport With Team members: 8 Effective Tips

Everyone is fired up to be a manager, but not all future managers are able to lead and inspire their teams correctly. The main reason for this is that managers simply don’t know the secrets of building strong team rapport. Their lack of knowledge can lead to disappointment and lack of performance, especially amongst the most crucial relationships of the organization. Understanding how to build a rapport with your team can help you become a better manager.

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How To Build A Rapport With Team members: 8 Effective Tips
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What does it mean to build a rapport with the team?

A rapport is a relationship of mutual trust and understanding for the long term. It’s how you create a connection with another person, and it’s the first step in developing a relationship. Rapport is the ability to connect with someone on a personal level. It is the feeling of being understood and having common ground. When you build rapport with someone, you can create a connection that goes beyond the surface. You can see them for who they are and understand their motivations. Rapport is the establishment of a connection or understanding between people. To build rapport with someone, you need to be able to understand their point of view and connect with them on a personal level. It is a step up towards building great relationships with your employees and boosting their morale. For managers, building rapport with team members refers to their ability to connect securely with their team members and gain mutual understanding. It also refers to managers coming out as helpful and supportive towards the people on their team. When managers can build trust, understanding, connections, and a healthy relationship with their employees, that is what building a rapport is. This process of building team rapport is a bit time taking but is highly important for having a healthy relationship with your team. The next section of this blog post will enlighten you more about the importance of building a rapport with your team.

Why should managers care to build a rapport with their team?

Rapport is key to success in any type of relationship, personal or professional. It’s what allows people to trust others, to feel comfortable around them, and to be open and honest with them. When we have a rapport with someone, we feel like we can be ourselves around them. A good rapport between a manager and their employees can be the key to a successful and productive work environment. Managers who take the time to develop a good rapport with their employees are seen as more approachable, which can encourage employees to come to them with suggestions or problems. Additionally, a good rapport can help build trust, which is essential for a healthy work relationship. Managers often forget the importance of rapport-building due to the general mindset that considers it a waste of time. They get so wrapped up in their agenda that they forget to take the time to get to know their team members. But if you want to be successful in your managerial role, you need to be able to build strong relationships with your team members or employees.

Benefits of building a rapport

Taking the time to build a rapport with your subordinate team improves their productivity in the long run. When employees feel like they can trust their manager and open up about their concerns, they are more likely to be productive and cooperative. One study found that when managers took the time to build a rapport with their subordinates, it led to a 20% increase in their work efficiency. They are also more likely to be open to new ideas and suggestions and to be supportive of the manager. So, if you want to be a successful manager, taking the time to build rapport with your team is essential. All these facts and information answer the question of why should a manager build a rapport with their team. But, the next question is How can a manager build a strong rapport with their team? There are 8 secrets in total for achieving that.

8 tips to build a rapport with your team

1. Being approachable and accessible

This is essential and should be done as soon as a new department or team comes into your place of work. A manager should be someone, they can approach without fear of repercussions. Being accessible helps build a rapport with employees as, you will be able to show them that whatever problem they may have or are concerned about, it is never too late for them to discuss their respective issues with you freely and openly. Also, take time out if required whenever someone requests help. A manager should not come out like a boss but as a coworker with mannerisms.

2. Creating a positive work environment

This is an essential step because one of the key reasons why employees don’t engage in productive activities is an inappropriate working environment. That is one of the biggest reasons to build a rapport with the employees. When businesses have a poor working environment, employees become unable to work effectively towards their goals and organizational outcomes decrease. Creating a positive working relationship can make this process easier. The workplace should be good for employees so that they feel comfortable enough to promote productivity within your team as well as your organization. Promoting mannerisms within the workplace can be a good first step in this regard.

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3. Encouraging and rewarding good work

Encouraging good work does not happen overnight but it is possible to build a rapport based on positive behaviors. Good and motivated employees are reliable for long-term improvements in all kinds of areas including individual development, organizational capability, customer relationship competence, and effective teamwork. They will accept the authority placed upon them without resistance which shows trust and understanding which are the pillars of building rapport. It enables managers to get maximum productivity from your team while they perform at their best.

4. Build genuine care within the team for each other

Managers should always be caring for their team in all possible ways. Even if it contributes to loss of income or profit. Such actions build a positive bond within the team. That makes everyone feel good about their work environment as well as each other’s performance and efficiency. This adds up to building a strong rapport between the managers and team members.

5. Connect with each individual in your team at a personal level

The best way to build a rapport with your team members is to connect with each individual on a personal level. No matter the size of your company, developing a personal connection with each employee is key to building a strong rapport. When employees feel like they are part of a team and that their work matters, they are more likely to be productive and innovative. Start by getting to know your employees as people, not just workers. Show genuine interest in listening to what their interests are, what they do outside of work (their hobbies), and what drives them.

6. Developing trust with your team

Trust is the main pillar of building a strong rapport in a professional setting. As a manager, you must develop trust with your team to develop a rapport. This will also help them feel comfortable taking risks and speaking up, which will ultimately lead to better work. Building trust is a very crucial step in building a strong rapport. Once team members lose their trust, a strong rapport can never be built. A great way of doing that is by showing empathy and saying clear through your words, body language, or even your facial expressions that you are there for them and you can be trusted.

7. Seek feedback about yourself

Having a common understanding of things is also one of the pillars of building a strong rapport as a manager. You can achieve that by doing active listening to or accepting direct reports of your team members’ feedback about you. When you’ll get your feedback from your employees, you’ll achieve transparency about how your team members are interpreting your inputs. By doing that you can eliminate any possible misinterpretations and achieve a common understanding of roles and responsibilities can be achieved.

8. Listen attentively

One of the best ways to build rapport with your employees is by being attentive and taking them seriously. Make sure you’re following their conversation, not interrupting excessively. Then give clear responses that demonstrate that you understand what they’re saying. When you will listen to them attentively, employees will be motivated to give more input. That will not just build a strong rapport but will have a positive impact on employee engagement.

To wrap things up

Having a good manager is an important factor to enjoy great work and success. But, not every manager will be able to maintain the same level of rapport with their team. It needs that special chemistry, trust, understanding, and connection. That said, we believe that if managers can understand the importance of building a strong rapport with their team members and if they can follow the 8 Important tips that are listed in this blog post, nothing will be able to stop them from building a strong rapport with their team members.

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FAQs

What does building rapport mean?

Building rapport refers to the process of building trust and relationships between team members and managers. It helps teams come together to collaborate over processes and achieve more things.
– Show interest: Show genuine interest in your team members by asking about their interests, hobbies, and family.
– Communicate effectively: Good communication is key to building rapport in a team. Be clear and concise when giving instructions, and listen actively to what your team members have to say.
– Recognize and celebrate achievements: Celebrate successes and recognize achievements within the team.

What are the key elements in building rapport?

The key elements to building rapport as a team manager are:
– Mutual trust
– Open communication
– Active listening

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How To Develop Integrity In The Workplace? 5 Proven Tips

Integrity in the workplace is a culture of doing what’s right even if it’s not popular. To have integrity in the workplace means you will do the right thing for the right reasons, regardless of making unpopular decisions that may land you in trouble. For you to succeed in your tasks, know how to leverage integrity in the workplace and keep it alive in your teammates. But before that, you should know what exactly is Integrity. So let’s figure that out first.

What is Integrity In The Workplace?

Professional Integrity is the cornerstone of good management. It is the quality that ensures a person’s actions and decisions are based on sound and ethical principles and honest beliefs. Integrity requires constant effort to maintain. Still, it is worth the investment because managerial integrity leads to efficient decision-making, strong relationships with coworkers, and a successful organization. According to the dictionary, the term “integrity” refers to a variety of things in the workplace. It includes having upstanding character traits and work ethics, such as sound judgment, honesty, dependability, and loyalty. Managers who demonstrate integrity of work gain trust among their employees and they stand up for what they believe is the right thing. Managers with integrity are honest with employees about their strengths and weaknesses. They also provide proper guidance to their employees.

Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is looking – C.S. Lewis

Integrity examples at work

Let’s say that a company has a policy that prohibits employees from using company resources for personal gain. One day, the manager notices that one of his team members is using company time and resources to work on a personal project during business hours. Instead of ignoring the issue or turning a blind eye, the manager decides to confront the employee in a respectful and professional manner. The manager reminds the employee of the company policy and explains why it’s important to follow it. The manager also makes it clear that any further violation of the policy will not be tolerated. By addressing the situation promptly and transparently, the manager demonstrates a commitment to upholding the company’s values and promoting a culture of integrity. This sends a strong message to the rest of the team that unethical behavior will not be tolerated, and that everyone is expected to act with honesty and integrity in the workplace.

Importance of integrity in the workplace

Integrity in the workplace helps in maintaining a positive image of the organization. According to an anonymous survey given in 1991, it is more important for corporate-level managers to project good behavior and integrity than hard work. Integrity in the workplace can help a manager to get a lasting career and greater trustworthiness at the organization. Integrity makes you secure and confident in who you are as a person. If you don’t have integrity in the workplace, there is no way to help your self-esteem because you aren’t honest about your morals and values. It is seen that when there are visible signs of ethical behavior, probity, and morality in an establishment, loyalty will be high among employees as well as customers. It then results in higher reliability and productivity level. Similarly having integrity within the team will help managers to promote their employees to the best of their ability and avoid corrupt practices. Cultivating integrity in managers is a good way to create examples of ideal behavior in the workplace. It is seen that integrity in managers helps in building loyalty among individuals regardless of seniority or position within the organization. Thus, it makes a strong bond between employees which brings consistency in effective synergy with higher productivity levels. Therefore, having integrity as one of the core values as a manager is highly important. Similarly promoting a culture of integrity in the workplace is also highly important to bring a sense of wholeness in the team and the organization as a whole.

Integrity is the most valuable and respected quality of leadership. Always keep your word. – Brian Tracy

Tips for developing integrity as a manager

The following tips can help you develop integrity as a manager

1) Maintain honesty

Being honest with yourself and your teammates is the first step in building integrity. When making decisions, always be honest with yourself and your team members about what is best for the organization. If you are not sure of an answer, ask for help from others so that you can make a sound decision. In accordance with managerial integrity, employees are expected to tell the truth and without any kind of compensation or incentives.

2) Fairness and justice

Being fair and just are important pillars of integrity in the workplace. Make sure all parties involved in a dispute or disagreement feel treated fairly and have an opportunity to voice their opinions freely without fearing consequences. Everyone in the organization has different perspectives and ideas so it is important for every manager to be able to listen, reason, and make decisions that do not break any of their employees’ trust or faith as a whole. Those decisions should be just and fair for all.

3) Be Vigilant For Signs Of Dishonesty

Honesty is not the only trickle-down quality that leads to a successful organization. A successful organization is built on a foundation of trust, and everyone in the organization must behave with integrity. Be vigilant for signs of dishonesty, and do whatever you can to prevent it from happening. If you see someone behaving dishonestly, speak up immediately so that corrective action can be taken. This will save you from the consequences of their dishonesty. It will also spread the word about your carefulness towards it which will prevent most of the rest from behaving dishonestly.

4) Maintain respect

Win over your teammates by showing that you value their opinion. A successful manager earns the trust and respect of his team by demonstrating that he values their opinions. Listen to what they have to say. Let them know how their input will help you make better decisions. Don’t try to micromanage them or tell them what they should do. Allow them latitude to make decisions that are best for the organization. This sense of respect shown from leadership positions will boost their confidence which will ultimately increase productivity.

5) Encourage Individual Achievement And Personal Growth

Create an environment where people can be their best. Allowing employees to be their best encourages personal growth and individual achievement, mentoring and coaching individuals can help them reach their full potential, which benefits the team as a whole. When you provide a safe and supportive environment, employees are more likely to come up with new ideas and take risks. This leads to innovation and a better understanding of the company’s goals. Developing integrity in self won’t be enough for managers to bring integrity to the workplace. They should promote the culture of integrity in their workplace to completely achieve it. How they should go ahead with it is as follows-

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How to promote the culture of integrity in the workplace?

Here are some tips for managers to promote a culture of integrity in the workplace

1) Adapt Model behavior

This means demonstrating integrity in the workplace in everything you do, from your words and actions to the way you dress and carry yourself. Be consistent in your approach, and let everyone know that any form of dishonesty will not be tolerated. Be an example whether you’re the top manager or a junior employee. It is incumbent upon leaders to make sure their behaviors are those of what they expect in others. Showing integrity yourself will convey that message to your team members. You should convey it not just with positive examples but also by speaking out when someone violates the values and ethics code. Keep this code visible and accessible so people know who or rather “whom ” to come to for guidance on critical situations. To begin, you should always address the situation openly and as soon as possible regarding inappropriate talk or behavior at work, even when it doesn’t involve dishonesty.

2) Establish And Stick To Rules And Standards

Creating rules and standards allows everyone in an organization to know what is expected of them. This leads to fewer misunderstandings and better cooperation. Establishing rules and standards also lets you hold team members accountable for their actions. If someone breaks the rules, they know that there will be consequences. Further, these rules will help employees engage in trustworthy behavior. These rules and standards should also be inclusive of everyone in the workplace including managers, employees, clients, and suppliers. No matter how big or small your team is you will have to watch out for any violation of the norms you establish. Some examples of integrity at work can be rules like –

no gossiping
no backstabbing
maintain mutual respect

3) Train And Promote Associates On Ethics

One of the most important things a manager can do to promote a culture of integrity is to train and promote associates on ethics. This means teaching them about what constitutes ethical behavior, how to identify unethical behaviors, and how to take action if they see something happening that violates standards. When associates are well-informed about ethics, they are less likely to engage in unethical behavior. Another way managers can promote this is by continuing to draw on their own experiences as a reference. We cannot expect our team members to do what we would not do, so when managers look for guidance in the past about good and bad behavior, it sends clear signals during tough decisions that might have dire consequences later.

4) Be Clear And Communicate Clearly

Clear communication is essential for promoting a culture of integrity. When you are clear about what your expectations are, team members know how to do the right thing to comply. Furthermore, by being communicative, you help avoid potential misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is on the same page. Don’t expect your team members to read every email, report, and memo that you send out. Try keeping communication simple through memorization or reminder emails. This will make it easier for them to know how they are expected to act when they have questions. Thus, it will eliminate the communication barriers, and practicing integrity will be easier.

5) Create Enforcement Mechanisms If Standards Are Not Met

If standards are not being met, it is important to have enforcement mechanisms in place. This can involve taking action such as issuing warnings, suspensions, or termination of employment. When rules and standards are consistently enforced, team members know that misconduct will not be tolerated and they will be held accountable. Risk-Taking Exercises:

Few examples of integrity in the workplace

For better understanding, we’ll be giving real-life examples of managers first behaving without integrity and then behaving with it. It will help you understand the difference clearly. 1. Without – The manager strictly punishes employees for coming late to work but when they come late there is no punishment or apology. With – The manager gives warnings to employees for few times for coming late to the work as they make the same mistake sometimes. 2. Without – The manager promises to promote an employee if they complete their targets without actually intending to do so. With – Manager only makes promises that they intend to fulfill. 3. Without – The manager gives promotions to their favorite employee who is also their brother’s son but is not at all deserving. With – The manager gives promotions to the most deserving employee.

Conclusion

Integrity is one of the most important topics in life and management. Integrity can be a core value of any organization, as well as a critical component of an effective leadership style. If you don’t have integrity, how can you expect your employees to? However, many things can go wrong with integrity in an organization. You must know the importance of integrity and how to develop it in yourself and into a strong organizational culture. We believe if a manager follows these steps of developing integrity and promoting its culture in the organization, and by learning from examples about what not to do, they can be completely successful in developing absolute integrity in the workplace.

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FAQs

How to deal with someone with no integrity?

Dealing with someone who lacks integrity can be challenging, but several strategies exist to handle the situation. It is essential to set clear boundaries, communicate expectations, and hold the person accountable for their actions. Providing specific feedback and consequences for unethical behavior can help to deter such behavior. If the situation persists, it may be necessary to escalate the issue to a higher authority or HR department.

How do you as a manager manage integrity at work?

As a manager, you promote integrity in the workplace by setting a good example and being transparent in your actions and decisions. Therefore, you should establish clear ethical standards, provide regular training and feedback, and encourage open communication and reporting of unethical behavior. Also, recognize and reward employees who demonstrate integrity and take appropriate disciplinary action for those who violate ethical standards.

Why is integrity important in workplace?

Integrity is crucial in the workplace because it establishes trust and credibility between colleagues, customers, and stakeholders. It promotes ethical behavior, accountability, and transparency, essential for a healthy and sustainable work culture. It also fosters a sense of responsibility, honesty, and respect, increasing employee engagement, loyalty, and retention. Integrity is essential for building a positive reputation and achieving long-term organizational success.

How lack of integrity in workplace can affect?

A lack of integrity in the workplace can significantly affect an organization. It can erode employee trust, damage the company’s reputation, and lead to legal and financial consequences. As a result, employees may become disengaged and lose motivation, leading to decreased productivity and increased turnover. Additionally, it can create a toxic work environment, leading to high-stress levels and low morale.

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Body Language: 6 Mistakes That Every Manager Should Avoid

6 Body Language Mistakes That Every Manager Should Avoid

It is a common misconception that managers should be hard-nosed and stern in their dealings with subordinates. However, managers need to have the right body language to build trust and create a positive working environment. In this blog, we have discussed body language, its importance, and what you should do to have the right body language while working as a manager. We have further discussed 6 body language mistakes commonly made by managers that they need to avoid.

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6 Body Language Mistakes That Every Manager Should Avoid
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What is Body Language?

Body language is one of the key indicators of someone’s personality. It is more than just the way a person stands, moves, and even talks. It’s your body betraying verbal signals that stem from emotions. It is more than the physical body and appearance. It refers to what you convey to the other person by just being there without saying any word. Your posture, facial expressions, and hand gestures are all nonverbal messages which collectively form your body language. Small things like eye contact and handshake are also parts of it. You can use your body language to communicate your feelings and intentions. And, your ability to understand and interpret other people’s body language can help you to pick up on unspoken issues or feelings. For instance, when you are feeling angry or in a good mood, your body language can display the same changes. It’s easy to spot some of these behavioral traits by just looking at someone. After, knowing what it is exactly, it is important to understand why having the right body language is important for people in managerial positions.

Importance of having the right body language for managers

A manager needs to have the right body language. The reason is that this creates an emotional connection between you and your employees. It’s not just about managing people It is also influencing their actions and building trust that cannot be achieved simply by telling them what they should do. It has to come from within and should reflect in your body language. Good body language skills can help managers influence and motivate their employees and improve productivity. It will allow managers to bond with their employees and present ideas with more authority and impact. By having it right managers can authentically project their brand of charisma, which is a powerful set of skills for any manager to develop. The importance of body language is that it assists us in better comprehending and decoding what someone is saying, as well as in comprehending other people’s moods and emotions. Having the right body language assures managers of the right message being passed on. it makes sure that they are interpreted correctly and eliminates the chances of miscommunications. But this doesn’t come inbuilt. It has to be built based on various experiences you get a long way. Expectations of people around you should also be incorporated in building your body language. While doing this managers are bound to make mistakes which can have a really bad effect on people’s perception of you. We accumulated 6 very dangerous but common body language mistakes from hundreds of managerial experiences to help all managers understand what to avoid. So, what are they?

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Body Language mistakes that every manager should avoid

1. Making facial expressions that indicate disagreement or anger

One of the biggest body language mistakes is openly showing disagreement and anger. This will only make your employees feel resentful and motivated to rebel, rather than work collaboratively. Even if you do disagree with something, you should still consider that input and should listen to it while your body language reflects the same. It is more than likely that you would have noticed your facial expressions as much as your employees. If they do not convey a positive message, it can lead to your employees avoiding meetings and hallway conversations. If your body language show disagreement or anger, it may make your employees hide information from you. It can lead them to alter information to please you. That can be harmful for your managerial position and it can also have bad effects on your image as a manager. Maintaining positive body language even when you disagree over things is the essence of a good manager.

2. Overexposing yourself unnecessarily when talking to employees

Intimidating body language can also create a chilly atmosphere in the workplace, discouraging employees from speaking up and improving communication between management and staff overall. Although it is your right as an employer, there are certain things that you cannot do without permission as a manager. One of these things is overexposing yourself to employees more than necessary. People are not your puppets. They have their preferences and will tune out if they perceive you as invading into their personal space. Overdoing it can cause employees to question what you want or need from them or how much respect you truly have for them. Showing tall parts of yourself may confuse the employee. It may make them unsure about where to turn when dealing with you. They then start showing resentment towards the manager. It can also result in other employees being uncomfortable around the manager and they do not feel comfortable disclosing information either.

3. Inappropriate or bad posture

Having a bad posture while communicating with your employees will make fall in the category of unprofessional and poor body language. Your employees may think that you are not considerate enough of them. Your postures should change according to your environment. For Example in meetings or discussions, you should sit or stand straight, look attentive. You should reflect that you are listening. On the other hand, while normal interactions like ones in the elevators or around the office, your Po should be relaxed and friendly. Having a good posture at all times will help you pass on the right perceptions of yourself to your employees. It will also reflect professionalism your professionalism. Likewise, it may also help you in building a rapport with your employees. You should be extra careful about your posture as it gives the first impression of your well-being when someone comes to see you.

4. Fidgeting and constantly moving around

A restless manager can be interpreted as one with no control over self. Managers are expected to maintain some discipline around themselves and set an example for their employees. Restlessness here can entirely bash that idea of discipline and will take away the seriousness and professionalism from the role. Therefore, a mistake like that should be avoided by a manager.

5. Not being attentive to what’s being said

This happens during office meetings or in open dialogue with employees. This can result in missed opportunities for problem-solving and tension building. Both of these will run counter to the objective of a productive workplace. Even if you are not able to pay attention you should at least show that you are by your body language. Lack of attention towards people you work with may badly affect your trustworthiness. Giving people direct eye contact when they talk, nodding your head when someone is speaking, and tilting your head slightly to encourage them to speak more are just a few examples of nonverbal signals that you should use while in a conversation or meeting. These will assure the other person that you are attentive to what they are saying.

6. Displaying an appearance that sends the wrong message about your attitude or professionalism

As we also discussed earlier, managers are expected to lead by setting an example. They should be the ones their employees look up to for taking inspiration about how to go ahead with their job. This includes inspiration over attitude and professionalism too. Therefore it is necessary that managers, through their actions spread out the right and the most appropriate message about their attitude towards their job and their professionalism. If managers show inappropriate attitudes towards their job and people around them and if they lack professionalism, these flaws will likely carry down to their employees. This will happen as employees will consider it to be accepted as their manager does so. This can ultimately create a very bad situation for managers and even their entire organization. Coming out of that situation will be extremely difficult.

Conclusion

Body language is one of the key indicators of one’s personality. It helps people build perceptions about him/her. While working as a manager it is highly important to have the perfect body language. It should suit your job and correctly displays your discipline, attitude, and professionalism. Setting up perfect body language is highly tricky and but there is still something you can do about it. We believe that if a manager can avoid the 6 mistakes we have listed above in this blog, the chances of them giving out the wrong message of themselves through their body language will drop drastically. Avoiding these mistakes won’t make you a body language expert. But it will drop down the chances of you going on the wrong track.

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5 Confidence Building Techniques To Unlock Success As A Manager

The term confidence is used to describe a person’s belief in their ability to succeed. Low levels of confidence can lead to problems for managers, such as poor decision-making and underperformance. The confidence building techniques written below are designed to help managers build their self-esteem and boost their self-confidence together with that of their team. But before we get into techniques, we should first understand what is confidence. We must also understand its importance and problems faced due to lack of confidence.

What is Confidence?

Confidence is a sense of well-being that is directly influenced by the things that surround a person. It’s the level of assurance a person has in her abilities and personal beliefs. It can range from having an optimistic starting point to a constant state of feelings of self-assurance. People pay attention to those with confidence and believe that they can reach great heights in life no matter how small their achievements were today! Having confidence means you know your skills, expertise, and what you’re ultimately capable of. Confidence can also be defined as a “belief in one’s skills, abilities or judgement”, that gets individuals to accomplish their goals and overcome failure. It is a trait of resilience that contributes greatly to the success rate of an individual. Confident people are more likely to accomplish new tasks and new skills as they do believe in their capabilities. Confidence is said to be directly influenced by personal factors such as:

> Recognition

> Positive past experiences

> Respect

> Competence

> Self-esteem

Therefore managers should incorporate these factors into their techniques to be able to effectively build confidence. But before we discuss techniques we should first understand the importance of confidence building at the workplace

Importance of confidence building?

Confidence is highly important for both managers and employees to perform effectively. We will now be explaining the importance of confidence building for both managers and employees.

Confidence building In Managers

Managers need to have confidence in themselves and their abilities. Confidence is often an important factor in making good decisions. It enables one to develop trust in themselves and allows them to be sure of the decisions they make. This confidence is helpful in situations when one doesn’t know what path to chose or doesn’t have all of the information required to make a decision. It gives the ability to managers to believe in their capabilities and shows them the right direction. Being confident allows managers to be more self-assured. They can develop a mindset that They can still choose an ultimately good decision after making a large number of flawed ones as time goes on. Managers with high levels of trust in themselves make better decisions than those who do not value their own opinion highly enough while making themselves trustworthy. A study was conducted to explore the concept of confidence in thirty managers and found that those with high levels of self-assurance made better decisions than those who felt less secure about their capability. It also revealed that these men tended to be more optimistic, confident, ambitious, and up-beat. They are not discouraged when they make mistakes as long as they learn from them. The higher-ups of businesses often felt quite satisfied and proud of their performance. The study also discovered that confident managers are more focused on meeting goals and demonstrate higher levels of team cooperation. Confident managers also are more willing to come out of their comfort zone to take risks and generate new ideas. This allows them to achieve greater success in the workplace as individuals. Confident managers are also known to have diligence as well as determination. They find a way without fail or push through instead of giving up when things get too difficult.

Confidence building In Employees

It is highly important for employees i.e. each team member under the manager should be confident as your team’s success is your success as a manager. By patiently assisting your employees in building confidence in their abilities, you will help them in adding efficiency to their daily tasks. In the long run, confidence will increase their willingness to accept and do new and risky tasks. Confidence in employees can positively affect their self-esteem and help them to pursue goals that may be difficult for them to achieve on their skill level. Confidence helps employees to be more productive and they perform their tasks with greater motivation. Confident employees are also willing to come out of their comfort zone and take risks. Confidence boost in employees can also have a positive impact on employee engagement. Confidence can push employees towards professional development. Therefore a team leader or a manager should assure employee confidence in their team or department. After understanding the importance of confidence within managers and employees we should also understand what problems do occur when they lack confidence.

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Problems faced by managers due to lack of confidence

The 5 main problems which managers do face due to lack of confidence either within themselves or their employees are as follows:

Employees may not take initiative or feel the need to perform well if they are not confident in their abilities.
This can lead to stagnation within an organization and a loss of productivity as employees stop taking risks and trying new things.
Poor communication is also likely to occur when managers lack confidence in their ability to communicate effectively with their team members, leading to misunderstandings and conflict resolution issues.
Low morale is often an outcome of a lack of confidence as employees start to doubt their abilities and feel demotivated.
In some cases, employees may even resign if they feel that there is no chance of them achieving career development within the organization.

It is therefore important that managers build and maintain confidence within themselves and their employees. But how do you effectively achieve that? Here you go..

Confidence building techniques to build your self-confidence as a manager

1. Practise self-acceptance for confidence building

When we feel good about ourselves, we project this energy outwardly to our relationships and work colleagues. Oftentimes, the first step in boosting confidence is recognizing that something is not wrong with you. It’s just part of who you are. Once you accept your flaws without comparing yourself to others or trying to change them, other people will start acknowledging your strengths too. When they do, it reinforces your confidence, making you even more likely to display those qualities. A manager who accepts and trusts himself/herself finds it easier to gain employee trust.

2. Acknowledgements

Acknowledgments touch us in the deepest part of our being, and that’s why they have such an impact. When we receive acknowledgment for something we’ve done well or contributed to, it makes us feel special. It reinforces good feelings about ourselves and gives us a sense of satisfaction which can spur on behavior that contributes to success. Therefore to build their self-confidence, managers should allow people to acknowledge their contributions.

3. Focus on your achievements for confidence building

When you think about all the amazing things you’ve accomplished in your career, what comes to mind? Probably things that made you proud and gave you a sense of satisfaction. That’s because focusing on the good stuff gives us confidence. It reminds us that we can achieve anything we put our minds to. Therefore to build confidence.

4. Surround yourself with positive people

If there’s one thing that boosts self-confidence more than anything else, it’s being around “people who believe in you”. Because they see in you the same traits and abilities that will propel. you forward as a manager. Showing them confidence can boost their own. Everyone wants to come around people who have self-belief so others feel confident enough for them to promote a great culture of collaboration and transparency too. When you put these ideas into practice, it will be easier to feel confident in your skin.

Confidence building techniques to build the confidence of your team

Here are a few techniques you can use to build the confidence of your team:

1. Ensure everyone has a voice

Encouraging team collaboration and communication is important, but it’s even more important to make sure that everyone feels comfortable contributing their ideas and sharing their opinion. That means allowing everyone to have their say, whether that’s through face-to-face meetings or open discussions on social media.

2. Promote an anti-bias culture

Believe it or not, there are some unconscious biases present in our brains that can influence how we view others and therefore the way we behave towards them. Therefore working to eradicate these hidden behaviors is a key step in creating a positive environment for everyone. It will help your team to anticipate knowing what’s expected from each other. That ultimately leads to greater growth in the confidence of individuals. It ultimately leads you to potential success for your business and the greater good.

3. Set realistic goals for your team

Setting ambitious but achievable targets also helps boost the confidence of some people. They may feel stuck in a particular role or believe they can’t reach their potential because it seems like everyone else is doing so much better than them. Realistic goals on the other hand will eventually give them assurance over their capabilities which ultimately will boost their confidence. Read more here to know if your goals are realistic or not?

4. Provide constant recognition

A feeling of being ignored or overlooked is one of the biggest factors contributing to low confidence within individuals. It gives them a feeling that their contributions are not valuable which can drastically from down their confidence. So when you recognize and reward your team for their efforts, they’ll believe that you value them and want them to succeed. This will ultimately add a lot to their confidence.

5. Acknowledge and celebrate their achievement

You can do this by sharing high-level achievements and positive feedback via email updates, social media channels, messaging services, etc. The little sense of being in the spotlight which these acknowledgments will create for the employees will add a lot to their confidence.

6. Invest in team bonding activities

To boost the confidence of your team, scheduling fun parties for people is a great way. It will get them together away from work and create an environment that helps build up a culture where everyone feels part of something bigger than themselves. This successful strategy is proven to help employees achieve great confidence levels. It can also increase productivity by breaking down barriers amongst peers.

7. Encourage higher engagement

Create an engaging environment where employees are motivated to achieve things at their own pace. Allowing and encouraging employees to strive for higher engagement will encourage them as a whole. It will give everyone confidence in building healthy relationships within the organization and achieving their milestones together. This strategy also comes with the benefit of reducing employee turnover when they feel more satisfied working under people who truly value what they do.

Conclusion

Confidence is an important factor in the performance of a manager. It is also a very difficult thing to boost. in the blog, we have given some techniques which proven to be able to help you to boost your confidence and make you feel comfortable in front of your team members. We have also given techniques which can make your team members more confident too and we hope the information provided comes out to be useful. Stay tuned for more relevant information.

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FAQs

How do manager show confidence at workplace?

Managers can show confidence in the workplace by being decisive, taking ownership of their decisions, and being accountable for the outcomes. They can also demonstrate confidence by being open to feedback and criticism, admitting mistakes, and working collaboratively with their team members. Additionally, confident managers communicate, set realistic goals, and empower their team members to take ownership of their work.

How confidence can build your self-esteem at work?

Confidence can build self-esteem at work by enabling individuals to feel more competent in their roles. When individuals are confident in their abilities, they are more likely to take on new challenges, speak up in meetings, and share their ideas with others. This can lead to a sense of accomplishment, greater job satisfaction, and increased confidence, creating a positive feedback loop that boosts self-esteem.

How leader’s confidence can inspire team?

A leader’s confidence can inspire their team by creating a sense of trust and belief in the leader’s abilities. When a leader exudes confidence, team members are likelier to follow their lead and trust their decisions. In addition, a confident leader can motivate team members to take on challenges, think creatively, and work collaboratively to achieve shared goals, creating a positive and productive work environment.

How confidence at workplace drives efficiency?

Confidence in the workplace drives efficiency by enabling individuals to make decisions quickly and effectively. Confident individuals are likelier to take the initiative, communicate clearly, and take calculated risks. This can result in faster and more effective problem-solving, improved productivity, and streamlined decision-making, leading to increased efficiency in the workplace.

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Setting Smart Goals As A Team Manager (Examples & Tips)

Many managers are finding success in achieving their goals by setting SMART goals. However, many fail to make them a reality by missing important information and guidance along the way. This blog aims to give a simple method to all managers to make their smart goals a reality. We will start by explaining what smart goals are and provide seven practical tips for managers to set smart goals for their teams. We will further give tips on smart goal setting along with plenty of smart goals examples for work.

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Setting Smart Goals As A Team Manager (Examples & Tips)
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What are smart goals?

The SMART goal-setting style is one of the most popular goal-setting frameworks managers use globally. Goal-setting is essential for team managers to achieve professional targets promptly. However, setting poor goals can leave managers feeling dissatisfied and burnt out. SMART goals put forth guidelines for setting goals that work for you and your team! The SMART goal-setting technique calls for improved goal-setting practices, which make acting towards those goals easier. The acronym SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. These five words form the fundamental tenets of the goal-setting habits used by great managers. In the following sections, we will understand these qualities of smart goals in greater detail with smart goal examples for work that managers can use.

Specific

The first principle of the smart goal-setting framework, denoted by the letter S stands for “specific.” Accordingly, the goal should be extremely clear. Everyone involved in the goal-setting process should be able to understand it without confusion. For instance, if the manager is setting goals for the entire team, they should explain the ideas behind them and the process of achieving them in substantial detail so that the team is updated and motivated. The goals you set should be so specific and should have such clarity that they leave no room for misinterpretations and going off track. A specific goal comes with a specific action plan to pursue, making it easier for an employee to carry it out. Smart goal – We will target the age group of 15 to 30 years for our new product. Non-smart goal – We will be targeting young people for our new product. More such specific goals examples for managers are listed below:

Specific goal examples for managers #1: Increase customer satisfaction ratings by 15% within the next quarter by implementing a new feedback system.
Specific goal examples for managers #2: Reduce employee turnover by 25% within the next year by improving communication and recognition efforts.
Specific goal examples for managers #3: Complete a leadership training program within the next six months to improve management skills and become a better leader.
Specific goal examples for managers #4: Increase team productivity by 20% within the next quarter by implementing a new project management tool and establishing clear goals.
Specific goal examples for managers #5: Reduce workplace accidents by 50% within the next year by implementing a new safety training program and enforcing safety procedures.

These goals are specific because they clearly specify what needs to be done, attach it to a particular timeframe, and further inform the team of the specific actions required to achieve those goals.

Measurable

The second principle of the smart goal-setting framework, denoted by the letter M, provides that goals should be measurable. You cannot measure an unknown quantity with success; goals need concrete targets and objectives that can be counted on. Furthermore, the outcome of a plan can only be measured along the journey and ultimately after its completion. Therefore, we need a method for measuring progress that is definite and consistent. The goal must be measurable through clear, predetermined means before it is put in place or after completion. In short- A measurement system for Smart Goals must include ways of tracking results so you know how close people are to achieving these specific goals. By having a measurable goal, employees can monitor their progress and adjust properly. Smart goal – Every member of the marketing department should increase social media following by 5%. Non-smart goal – Each team member of the social media team should make a good number of posts each day. More measurable goal examples for managers are listed below:

Measurable goal examples for managers #1: Increase website traffic by 25% in the next quarter.
Measurable goal examples for managers #2: Reduce customer wait time by 50% within the next month.
Measurable goal examples for managers #3: Increase social media engagement by 20% within the next six months by posting daily updates and responding to comments.
Measurable goal examples for managers #4: Increase sales revenue by $100,000 within the next year by expanding into new markets.
Measurable goal examples for managers #5: Reduce production defects by 15% within the next quarter by implementing a new quality control process.

These goals are measurable because the items are trackable. They can be quantified and measured using quality control metrics. The numbers provide a clear target to aim for and set milestones in between.

Achievable

The third fundamental principle outlined under the smart goal-setting framework, identified by the letter A, calls for achievable or attainable goals. Goals can often challenge the individuals aspiring toward them, but they should not be set out of their reach. Setting unrealistic goals does more harm than good. Managers should know the capabilities of their employees and the systems they have deployed in their team. They should then incorporate that information to set goals that can be challenging for their employees’ professional development but should be achievable. They should be within the intensity of their employees’ capabilities and the team’s needs. How to know your team better? Check out one-on-one meetings! Smart goal– Person A (a new business development executive) should call and send personalized emails to 10 leads per day this quarter. Person B (an experienced business development executive) should call and send customized emails to 25 leads per day this quarter. Non-smart goal – Every business development executive should call and send personalized emails 100 leads per day. A few more examples of achievable goals for work are listed below:

Achievable goals examples for managers #1: Increase email newsletter subscribers by 500 within the next three months by optimizing signup forms and offering incentives.
Achievable goals examples for managers #2: Reduce customer complaints by 20% within the next six months by improving product quality and customer service.
Achievable goals examples for managers #3: Increase employee satisfaction ratings by 10% within the next year by implementing a new wellness program and providing more opportunities for professional development.
Achievable goals examples for managers #4: Increase monthly website revenue by 15% within the next six months by optimizing ad placements and improving website user experience.
Achievable goals examples for managers #5: Reduce response time to customer inquiries by 50% within the next quarter by implementing a new customer support ticketing system and providing additional training to support staff.

These goals are achievable because they set realistic targets that can be reached within a reasonable timeframe through specific actions.

Realistic

The fourth principle of the smart goal-setting framework, denoted by the letter R, calls for realistic goals. Goals need to be in line with the surrounding environment. You should not set unrealistic goals but make them much more challenging while still being realistic if you want to overcome your limits. The goals should reflect the reality of your business’s current standing. Setting up unrealistic goals will demotivate your employees when they are not achieved. They may even deviate you from attaining the deserved strategic success by taking you and your team in the wrong direction. It doesn’t mean the goals should not be stretched to push the team’s and individuals’ capabilities. Smart goal – We should jump from 10% to 15% of the market share by the end of the quarter. Non-smart goal – We should jump from 10% to 50% of the market share by the end of the quarter. More such realistic goals examples for managers are listed below:

Realistic goals examples for managers #1: Launch a new product line within the next six months, targeting a new customer segment with a clear value proposition.
Realistic goals examples for managers #2: Increase employee productivity by 10% within the next quarter by implementing a new task management system and providing additional training and support.
Realistic goals examples for managers #3: Expand into two new geographic markets within the next year by conducting market research, building partnerships, and establishing a local presence.
Realistic goals examples for managers #4: Improve customer retention rate by 15% within the next six months by improving customer service and offering loyalty rewards.
Realistic goals examples for managers #5: Reduce operating costs by 10% within the next year by optimizing supply chain management, reducing waste, and improving efficiency.

These goals are realistic because they account for the team’s environment and the capabilities of the team members. Accordingly, it sets reasonable targets and a timeframe for achieving these goals through particular actions.

Timely

The last principle of the smart goal-setting framework calls for timely goals. The goal needs to have a Target Date. You cannot let a plan drift away and do nothing. If you make an achievable goal, drive it towards your Target Date. Managers should make sure that the goals they set are strictly time-bound. It will make it clear to the employees how much time they have to achieve the desired goals. Smart goal – Business analysts should submit the growth reports by Tuesday EOD. Non-smart goal – Business analysts should submit growth reports ASAP. Some more examples of timely goals for managers are listed below:

Timely goals examples for managers #1: Launch a new website within the next two months, with all content and functionality completed and tested.
Timely goals examples for managers #2: Complete a team-wide review of leadership skills with Risely’s free assessment within the next four weeks, providing feedback and actionable recommendations to all managers.
Timely goals examples for managers #3: Increase social media advertising spend by 20% within the next month to take advantage of a seasonal marketing opportunity.
Timely goals examples for managers #4: Launch a new product within the next six months, with all necessary testing, packaging, and marketing materials completed.
Timely goals examples for managers #5: Complete a company-wide diversity and inclusion training program within the next quarter, with all employees participating and completing required assessments.

These goals are timely because they define a reasonable timeframe to ensure the completion of tasks when the team needs them.

How To Write Smart Goals? 7 Essential Tips On Setting Smarter Goals

1. Establish a goal-setting process with your team

Smart goals are something you’ll always have to create and track, so a managers’ first step should be to implement a goal-setting process that ensures your team is all on the same page. This can ensure that everyone is on the same page, feeling safe and seeing a common goal. A team will always be able to communicate better if they understand how things progress together. By making your staff aware of this process you’ll all get there faster! The smart goal-setting process must be meaningful to each person on the team for individual and team goals. it should cater to the objectives to work, and an employee must buy into it. This method ensures that the employee and manager both understand the goal. This method will also have a positive impact on employee engagement as employees will feel involved in team processes.

2. Identify personal and professional drivers for success

Personal drives are what motivate you. They are the difference between going from 50% motivation to 100%. These can include things such as security, job satisfaction, and stability in your job. This will change over time depending on their needs for personal success. The professional drivers will include transparency of goals, soft skills, etc. These will also change over time based on their tasks, profession, and role. They should be included in the goal process for alignment with employee objectives either personal or professional goals. These drivers can be unique for different managers and identifying them will prove to be highly effective for the process of smart goal-setting.

3. Brainstorm potential smart goals that align with your personal and professional drivers of success

After identifying these drivers, managers can incorporate them into the smart goals and incentives of their employees. That will ultimately make goal-setting much more efficient. The goals and incentives should be able to foster the desired results that lead you in the direction of your personal and professional drivers of success. Managers should identify these potential goals and ask their employees for their input about the ones that will result in success for them either personally or professionally. Externally, employees will notice a sense of surprise and fulfillment that drives the success for their personal and professional purposes. Employees tend to feel motivated about doing more tasks that help them achieve success in every area including family, job security, or any of their own goals. The ultimate goal is making employees thrive as professionals by satisfying both external demands like work goals while also realizing inner desires such as achieving financial progress or becoming self-sufficient outside of your job role.

4. Make sure your smart goals are attainable

Make sure that your goals are realistic and measurable. Don’t expect your employees to stay motivated by setting lofty goals that are hard to achieve with unrealistic expectations. Set realistic, attainable, and measurable goals. Make sure that people have a chance to achieve what they make their mind up about. For example, if you’re aiming for more in your career and wanting to manage more employees, break goals down by month and year so it becomes attainable step-by-step. Attainability is extremely important when establishing personal or professional objectives or employee goals because it removes the possibility of failing up to a great extent. Job requirements should not exceed an employee’s capabilities nor cannot get any easier than what they have in their skill set currently.

5. Make sure all the smart goals have a specific deadline, metric, or target employees to ensure accountability & motivation

When setting goals, make sure that each goal is clearly defined. Goals need to have specific details about deadlines, means by which actual results are gauged (metrics/Targets), and how the objectives will benefit everyone involved in reaching it regardless of their particular roles or positions within a company. The clearer you can be about the deadlines, metrics, and target employees, the greater chance people have in achieving the targets laid out by your goals and objectives. If you are not clear enough with what the goal is when they start, it may put the fear of failure in them which might slow down their progress as a whole. Clarity on deadlines can help employees in time management. Clarity on metrics will help employees in understanding on what basis will their performance reviews be done. Similarly clarity on target employees will clear which of the employees are targeted for the specific goal.

6. Always assess opportunities that come up along the way

Another plus point of smart goal-setting is that you can change or upgrade your goals when new opportunities arise. Continue to assess opportunities that come up with regards to reaching your goal. It might be a great plan if something unexpected happens and you can take advantage of it. You may be able to create different goals that may lead to better outcomes. What you should understand is that even if your specific goal was not achieved, it does not mean your overall objectives for the company are also defeated.

7. Make sure goals remain realistic in order from priority

Make sure, though the Smart Goals are considered to be detailed and urgent, they still retain realistic priorities. They must not make impossible assumptions that will turn out to be another goal that doesn’t stand a chance of being achieved if it is unrealistic in any way. Don’t overestimate your goals but make sure you don’t underestimate them as well! Usually at first when individuals set smart goals they often can feel overwhelmed by where to start, what to focus on, or how much time will it take? The extension in between smart and old school timelines can seem painstakingly slow if you’re not careful.

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How To Set Smart Goals At Work?

Setting smart goals will help you perform optimally, but achieving them is another matter. All these smart goals have great potential to bring great success to your team and prove your effective leadership. But all these benefits will come up only if you can achieve these goals in the first place. Therefore we have these tips for you to make sure that you achieve these goals effectively.

> Create an Action Plan to achieve your smart goals

Many employees are confused because they don’t have a clear plan on how to achieve their goals. However, there is no doubt that without action plans you can’t get anywhere close to your goal. Action planning will help them in getting closer and more focused on their personal goals and that of their teams. They will be able to create a roadmap of all the key steps required for them to clarify their goals. Therefore, managers after setting smart goals should also create an action plan for their employees to achieve them.

> Revisit your goal-setting process regularly to ensure that you are staying on track & adapting as needed

Review your goals once a quarter. You should be thinking about how you see yourself or the company compared to these goals and what have you done so far as well. Reviewing your progress helps you make adjustments and it also gives you a chance to appreciate what has worked as well as identify places where there is room for improvement. You should also update your goals whenever information & research on the market changes. Check what other people, companies, or private sector projects are doing and make sure you give yourself a competitive edge. Make sure you do nothing that undermines your ability to achieve these goals. So, be cautious while making decisions and always remember the end goal.

> Stay positive, focused, and committed

Keeping an optimistic attitude should drive you during the journey of achieving your smart goals. If your goals are too ambitious and unrealistic, it can harm your whole team performance badly as we mentioned above. A team needs a strong leader and positive workplace environment to realize their purpose at work. This will also have a positive impact on employee morale and save them from burnout.

> Delegating effectively and communicating expectations as clearly as possible

Managers can achieve more goals by delegating additional tasks to their teams. Extending the work to your team members not only cuts down the workload that you might have but also helps them understand what’s expected of them and why it is important for everybody involved. Your team should feel assured in a sense as they know exactly where they stand with respect to this task or responsibility, and they should also deliver with pride. Every team member has a role to play in the team. They have to be responsible for their goal achievement too. Therefore it is highly important for managers to effectively communicate the expectations and action plans of employees to them. A leader keeps reminding the members that it is their task and every individual plays an important part in the team.

> Encouraging them to give constructive feedback in order not to let performance slip

Unreliable employees are the biggest headache of a manager. These kinds of people cause everything to get messed up because they do not take feedback appropriately. Their performance then goes down significantly. You have to motivate your team members that without proper constructive feedback there’s no way they can give best-in-class output or perform at such high levels as expected by them. To be sure on this point, it is better for managers to collect different types of feedback from their team and share it with them. This also helps in taking care of any possible conflicts between employees or getting things on track before these begin to take place.

> Running meetings effectively

A manager should run effective meetings so that they make all employee members more vigilant when needing to put things into action. These meetings can help employees in achieving desired results against time frames as suggested by their respective managers. Alternatively, having an effective meeting will also help members know about upcoming updates which then helps them in their work. it is highly important for employees to be updated on progress and time frames. It helps them evaluate their input over a period of time and they can then change it according to the shortcomings if any.

Check out the secrets of effective goal-setting for more.

Conclusion

Smart goals are goals that are attainable, measurable, and specific. They should be realistic and achievable, but at the same time, they should also be challenging. Smart goals must have a deadline so that you can measure your progress. Smart goals require an ongoing commitment from everyone involved in the goal. It means that they cannot be achieved overnight or by any one person. It is a manager’s responsibility to set goals for their team and only they are responsible to make their team achieve those goals. Setting smart goals for your team can evidently increase your chance to achieve strategic success. So, without further ado, start smart goal-setting today.

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5 Ways New Managers Can Create The Best Impression On Their Teams

Starting a new job as a manager is an exciting time because you’ve finally been given the chance to put your ideas into action. Also now you’ve got the staff to carry them out. A new manager, like any Manager, has a lot of power over the teams they manage. So, it’s crucial to get the relationship started on the right foot. In fact, a lasting good impression is all about self-promotion and the establishment of yourself as an effective manager. It also includes getting the team to take ownership of their own successes and failures. At a workplace, individuals do create multiple impressions of themselves while communicating, questioning, sharing their ideas, giving or taking job interviews, writing emails, greeting others, doing gestures, or sometimes even through their social media handles. This article will give you tips over what to do to make the best of all of the impressions one can possibly make while joining an organization as a new manager. Firstly, we will unfold upon the very importance of making the best impression on the team as a new manager.

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5 Ways New Managers Can Create The Best Impression On Their Teams
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Importance of making the best impression

It is highly important for new managers to make the best impressions on their teams Because you only get one opportunity to do it. Making a good first impression on supervisors, coworkers, and customers is critical. First impressions help you demonstrate that you’re trustworthy, confident, and personable. Setting a first impression in the workplace entails creating a positive impact through social confidence, sincerity, dress, and verbal fluency. As a Manager, you put your best foot forward while self-presentation and leave people with a favorable opinion of your character and abilities. You must be able to express yourself without copying other people. Also, you should always refer to their experiences as though they were yours. The first impressions that the new managers form will determine how well they are treated by their team. By gaining your immediate team’s respect, appreciation, admiration, and trust you gradually develop credibility among all levels of employees. Therefore it is only practical for them to make the best impression on them. That will help them form the best impression throughout the organization. The new manager needs to do the best they can in order to stay well received. First impressions have the potential to make or break a person’s perceived image. A positive experience can help them develop long-lasting business relationships. When it comes to delegating work, pitching your ideas, leading meetings, or conducting interviews, a good first impression is particularly important. here are the 5 most efficient tips for impression management. These will help you set the best impression possible on your new team as a new manager.

5 Tips to create the best impression

1. To create the best impression, Listen attentively to what your employees have to say

When managers listen to their employees and are involved in the conversation, they build cohesive teams. The members of this team will always have conformity with their leaders. Meanwhile, when they ignore their staff’s ideas and concerns, they create churn. All levels of staff should be encouraged to speak with their direct supervisor or management. If you explain to your employees that their feedback is important and that you encourage their feedback and have conformity in their ideas, you must first listen to them in order to show them that you are open to listening and making changes based on their concerns. You need to have empathy which is the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings. Good eye contact, open body language, facing towards your conversation partner and nodding and smiling on rare occasions, all demonstrate that you are all ears and listening attentively.

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2. Don’t be a control freak

Let your employees work autonomously in most situations. At the same time ensure that you are always aware of their progress. You should keep them appraised of any changes or updates that may affect their workflow or duties. Avoid becoming a “control freak” by not micromanaging your staff. You need to know what’s going on, but you don’t necessarily have to be in the middle of it all when it happens. Turn over the reins and let them do whatever they can for themselves without anxiety whenever possible. In business relationships personal honesty is key. So, once you’ve made up your mind about an issue or decision make sure that no one knows about it but yourself. This is because when you dishonestly withhold information such as this from your staff, they will become less trusting of what you have to say or do for the company. They will think that their opinion does not hold anything worth stating. This increases resentment towards you in a time when employees are underutilizing cheap tools to save them money without informing anyone else. This also causes issues with employee relationships speaking negatively about management results − all of which lower the employees’ performance. This extends to how you make decisions too. It needs to be with after giving your staff as much input (and maybe even agreement) as they need before making a final decision, or before looking back on their concerns and changing things again. Always keep the process of decision-making open to your staff by gathering their concerns and dealing with them honestly. To make everyone feel at ease, you may even want to allow a discussion before you give an answer.

3. Reward outstanding performance to standout as the manager with the Best Impression

Happy employees are productive and will go above and beyond for you. One of the top ways to deter bad employees is keeping them on a high standard. Show personal appreciation and celebrate achievements with them. Make sure that there are occasions where their performance is reviewed and recognized upon which they can receive praise or rewards for it, otherwise this will not work as well. Of course, while your specific reward system may be slightly different. Do recommend that you keep in mind how important having enthusiasm/excitement, in general, is for the job. A positive environment will ensure a happy employee and one fired or left on their own terms doesn’t happen to you. Even if they are not so pleasant when forced elsewhere. Rewarding employee performance can be a highly effective method for keeping employees motivated and working toward a business’s success. This can be done with financial rewards and non-monetary incentives. They should be providing recognition, appreciation, and compensation for employees who have worked hard and put in the extra effort. Managers can not have a better impression on their employees that being the ones who recognize the good work appreciate it and even reward it. Therefore, for making the best image of oneself as a manager, rewarding outstanding performance will be a good idea without saying.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Leadership fails when it overlooks the value of asking questions. A manager that doesn’t know how to ask and challenge his/her employees may be doing their staff a disservice instead by not giving them tools in which they can handle and overcome challenges. Asking questions to the employees about themselves will also help new managers. Managers need to know the names and backgrounds of all of their team members. They should understand where they are lacking and what all of the initiatives would make them better professionals. Knowing employees well leads to better results and productivity. That can only be possible by asking questions. A new manager asking questions will have a positive impact on their team. Their employees will be more willing to share information with them and help the company grow in its operations. It also gives your employees an idea of where you stand, exploring issues pertaining to growth potentials and the growth vision of the company. Staying informed about what’s going on with operations or aspects above your head will ensure you notice potential problems before they occur. You can then take steps to remedy them before they become big problems. But that can happen only if you frequently ask questions. Open-ended questions can prevent you from making judgments based on assumptions. They can also result in unexpected answers that can lead to better results. New managers who frequently ask questions give out an impression of being interested in learning about the business and the employees, whom they are going to manage. It will help them with the information they require to effectively manage their teams. It will also create a positive impression on their employees.

5. Make yourself available to your employees at all times in order to create the best impression

A manager should be always available for his team. This will show that you value their input and appreciate their hard work and dedication. Your team will be more willing to lend them their valuable contributions. That can give you advantages with the information they might have. This concept can also apply if you are missing and not available because of vacation or retirement. Team members don’t mind being asked for advice during that time either. All this, as long as you follow up immediately when/if circumstances permit. This will keep them in a constant loop of the progress of your team, which is essential for their growth and expansion. Your employees will be more likely to give you their feedback if they are pleased with the way in which you work. By making yourself available, even when it’s not needed, they will see you like a caring, supporting, and friendly boss no matter how busy or minimal your administrative duties may actually be. It shows that a manager is willing to hear suggestions from his/her team members. It also shows that he/she expects them to add value to the company’s growth. As a general rule, show your employees that you value them and their opinions. Once this happens then they are more likely to be loyal to your company. This way making the best impression of yourself will be much easy

What to avoid as a manager while trying to make the Best Impression?

There are a few things to avoid in order to impress your employees.

– Don’t be too busy for them

Remember that your team members are there to help you, not take over or do all the work for you. If it looks like they’re struggling because of how much work is on your plate, try and delegate some of the tasks so that they can feel appreciated.

– Avoid being rude or unyielding

Treating people like a number and not as individuals will only lead to people distrusting your leadership, therefore eventually their loyalty once. These two Traits are actually traits of the worst managers. To make the best impression on your employees, you should avoid giving them even the slightest of doubt that you may have these traits.

– Don’t isolate yourself from your team

If you work in a large company, chances are that you will be working alongside many other people. Even if they may not know each other as well or often, remember to extend the hand of friendship to them and reaffirm their importance within the workplace. Just like any other relationships at home where family members hang around with each other regularly that is what works for management too!

– Avoid giving too many excuses

A good word goes a long way but when it comes to actual issues, you have time for everything. A manager should see what can be done? Instead of making each and every excuse possible (like the weather being bad or that work is coming up). Even if your company allows you to take unscheduled breaks or just gets them because of their busy schedule; might as well make use of this once in a while. Giving too many excuses gives out an impression that you are either irresponsible or you are avoiding work or you are leading your team towards deception, which is the worst impression you may have on an employee.

Conclusion

To make the best impression as a new manager, we recommend that you take some time to think about what you can do to make a good first impression. The tips that we provided in our blog post are a great place to start. Make sure you are doing everything you can to establish yourself as a competent and qualified manager. Your team will thank you for it! Let us know in the comments below if you found this useful.

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FAQs

What new managers should do first?

A new manager should start by creating a good relationship with their team. This begins with a good first impression which helps teams place trust and confidence in the manager.

What are the 4 biggest mistakes new managers make?

The 4 biggest mistakes that managers can make are: Waiting to offer feedback to employees Failing to delegate tasks ; Not connecting with the people Can’t find a balance between distant and friendly

How do new managers succeed?

New managers succeed by creating a good personal brand and developing confidence in their skills among the team members. Understanding the existing team dynamics and individual members is important too.

How do you lead a team as a new manager?

Leading a team as a new manager begins with establishing relationships with the team members. The process begins with building a rapport and understanding them.

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