It’s stressful being a manager. You may have staff who are constantly complaining, employees who have an excuse for every kind of error and others who aren’t very reliable. Without effective communication skills, this drama can quickly take over an office and significantly reduce productivity.
Characteristics of effective managers
Effective managers have the communication tools to keep distractions to a minimum. They know just what to say and how to say it. This can be a challenge in today’s communication landscape.
Effective managers tackle the obstacles that limit clear communication. They realize the importance of every interaction, be it over the phone or in person.
When you communicate clearly, you instill confidence in others. Employees discover that they are appreciated. They learn that you value the work they do. This ensures positive change, builds loyalty and boosts productivity.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Avoid emotionally charged words whenever possible.
- The more difficult the news, the more in-person it should be delivered.
- Diffuse difficult situations with positive or neutral phases.
How do you become a more effective manager?
One word: training. This can be done individually, or through a team approach. I especially enjoy working with teams of managers. Why? Because senior leaders are often on hand at these workshops to hear the struggles their managers are facing. This often leads to quick solutions. I call this “fixing the pop machine”. Leaders who never visit the break room may not realize that this workplace staple is broken. Once they discover the goof, it can be immediately fixed. And second because of the team building. My workshops reinforce and build relationships between managers which can go a long way toward building a better, more effective workplace.
Ready for more? See what TruPerception can do for you.
