I’ve obtained a bird’s eye view of the practices that are essential to a manager’s job performance and the satisfaction of his or her staff. We’ve found that superior managers—those who lead their teams to the greatest levels of performance and job satisfaction—often share three critical habits.
Clear expectations. Managers who set clear expectations ensure that employee efforts are spent doing the right things the right way. This means thoroughly exploring what will be required of the employee, how their performance will be evaluated in the future, and getting agreement and commitment to work towards established goals. There is a big difference between telling someone what’s expected of them and making sure that what they’ll be doing is completely understood.
Consistent communication. Consistent communication requires diligently observing what employees say and do, and speaking openly with them about their work. A manager’s interaction with his or her employees delivers the resources, guidance, and recognition they need to succeed. Communication is effective when it is frequent and in a language that everyone understands.
Powerful feedback. You can only provide powerful feedback when you pay careful attention to each employee’s performance, while offering praise as frequently and emphatically as you do constructive feedback. Powerful feedback pushes your team to new heights by positively reinforcing successful endeavors and realigning efforts that become misdirected.
The superior manager keeps track of performance—ensuring that positive and negative feedback are delivered in small, digestible doses.
Make it a great day!