How to Become a Great Manager – Tips+Tools+Examples
Great managers are never born, they get created. So if you are asking yourself how to become a great manager then first of all you would need to get this fact into your mind.
A great manager can take a team to a whole new height.
A recent Gallup survey found that 70 percent of a team’s success depends on the manager.
If you want to be a great manager and lead your time to success, you are in the right place.
In this blog, we are going to discuss what does a good manager look like, the difference between a manager and a leader, tips to become a great manager, and successful manager examples.
So, without any further delay, let's get started!
What Does a Good Manager Look Like?
A good manager isn't just someone with a fancy title or a big office. They're the ones who make a real difference in the workplace.
So, what does a good manager look like?
He is someone who:
- Is always ready to listen and help
- Makes you feel valued and supported
- Doesn't just boss around
- Guide and mentor their team
A good manager is approachable and easy to talk to. They create an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas and feedback.
They also lead by example. This means they:
- Show up on time
- Work hard, and
- Stay positive even when things get tough
They're problem-solvers who stay calm under pressure and help their team navigate challenges.
Most importantly, a good manager cares about their team's growth and success. They celebrate achievements, big or small, and provide opportunities for learning and development. They want everyone to do well because they know that a happy, motivated team is the key to success.
Manager vs Leader – Let's Clear the Confusion!
Now many people make the mistake of mixing a great manager with a great leader. Both leader and manager have their own style of doing things & achieving goals. Leadership and managerial skills serve purposes in a team in two different ways.
And we shouldn't have the misconception about the clear responsibility divergences for each of them. So here is how a great leader compares with a great leader in the real world.
That's the manager vs leader comparison. Now let's move on to the next segment where we have discussed 10 tips to become a great manager.
How to Become a Great Manager – 10 Proven Tips for You
If you are playing the role of a manager then you have no option to rest or let things slide. You will always need to stay on your toes and up for any challenges that are thrown your way.
Remember that your team looks up to you and if anything goes wrong then they would want you to make the right call to steer past it.
That being said, follow these 10 tips to become a better manager that your team wants you to be:
- Knowing the Team Better Than Others
- Having a Clear Goal and Mission in Mind
- Communicating Well and Regularly
- Planning Ahead Fore-sighting the Big Picture
- Giving Credit Where It Is Due
- Taking Risks with Confidence
- Checking Results to Provide Proper Direction
- Being Fair to One and All
- Challenging Own Managerial Skill
- Having Fun and Sharing Light Moments
Now let us explain each of the above-mentioned tips so that you can easily understand what you should do to become a great manager!
1. Knowing the Team Better Than Others
Now when you have a team to manage, you cannot just simply guide them without knowing them or getting emotionally connected with them better. Failing to do so, you might misjudge their capabilities, strengths, weaknesses, emotional barriers, and more.
This could lead to several issues like misunderstanding their state of mind or you could simply become insensitive to the problems they are actually facing.
So you should have the mindset to give enough time to know your team better to build a good relationship with each of the team members. Play an entertaining quiz or games with them.
Observe the skills and talents that each of them possesses so that you can play to their strengths to utilize them when the time comes.
2. Having a Clear Goal and Mission in Mind
One can't go too far if they don't have a mission to complete and a goal to achieve in front of them. And in order to attain results moving in a certain direction with a definite goal in mind really essential.
Otherwise, you will be like a ship without a radar. So having a goal gives you focus allowing you to measure the progress of your task.
Walking with a definite mission inline keeps you locked in and undistracted. Moreover, a clear goal in mind will enable you to overcome procrastination and eventually give you that extra push & motivation to do your job better.
Therefore a manager needs to have strategic thinking and should have the ability to set long-term goals.
3. Communicating Well and Regularly
For any project or task to succeed, maintaining regular communication with the team members needs to work together to ensure the goals of the company.
Say for example if a manager shares any conflicting information with his teammates without communicating well with other managers or colleagues then they might have to deal with a number of unhappy members in the team.
So always make yourself available to easily communicate with your staff and co-workers. Make them feel that you are easily approachable at any time.
As with such an effective communication process, it is also very important for you to let them know about what their role & responsibilities are and how much is expected of them.
4. Planning Ahead Fore-sighting the Big Picture
You will feel more in control of your day-to-day life when you plan for your tasks days, weeks, or even months ahead.
But when you run around blindfolded without planning in advance then you always tend to miss something at the last moment. And when it is about your business or money then planning ahead will always allow you to feel safe & ready.
Leaving things for the last moment can cost you money, time, and most importantly your intelligence.
On the hand, planning ahead can always help you to prepare properly and get things cheaper by taking advantage of the time you have in your hand.
This means you can make any adjustments to your plan with a great deal of time in hand. This would also enable you to lift the sights occasionally to look at the big picture. Such a skill is vital for getting results and it is something that distinguishes you from the rest of the team members.
5. Giving Credit Where It is Due
One of the essential entities of being responsible and people's favorite manager is always giving complete credit to your team members when it is due. This not only creates an immense amount of trust for you but also makes them respect you more than anyone.
So this means if someone or the whole team does well on some task or achieves some significant milestones while completing the task under your project that you are managing, then you shouldn't forget to congratulate them or announce their accomplishment publicly.
If you realize some of the members are working hard in your team to meet the goals that you have set for them, then you can simply surprise them by sending over their favorite pizzas & desserts to their desks or even a simple email shoutout to the whole team acknowledging their performances would boost their morale to a great extent.
6. Taking Risks with Confidence
‘No Risk No Gain‘, is the common proverb that we always hear in life as well as in the business world. And this is true for a daring manager too who doesn't shy away from taking risks when necessary.
A manager who doesn't have the guts to take risks upfront and those who always want to play safe may never get to feel the fun of achieving something big or noteworthy.
So, therefore, taking risks or being gutsy enough to experiment with the decision should be another attribute that a great manager should install in them.
Surely there will be failures and there will be a time when you will make a wrong risky move, but at least you will be able to learn from those mistakes and will be able to move forward with a better understanding of things in the future.
And when you take risks, failures will come but at the same time, the chances of achieving something big are also higher if you can do all the right things at the right time. If not then do remember that making mistakes is the key element to learning and growing as a team.
7. Checking Results to Provide Proper Direction
There can be countless uncertain times out there when the situation demands a manager to stay calm and seek precise direction for the team.
They would probably need to have to quickly judge the result within the situation to get clear about what is within their circle of management responsibilities including their next directional step.
And every manager should have the skill of giving appropriate direction. Make sure to follow up on the progress of the assigned task.
You may have set the goals and appointed the right person on it, but checking the performance and its result enables you to realize whether you are giving the right direction or not. As direction can work as a compass and guidance to the team members at all times.
8. Being Fair to One & All
Treating everyone equally with the same fairness improves the faith in you for any team. While managing a team as a lead manager one can't simply treat any of the teammates under them differently. This could very easily bring disputes and dissatisfaction to the team's morale.
And if you are not treating your colleagues fairly then sooner or later they would tend to notice that. They would start to compare how you treat each of the members based on their hard work, overtime, time off, allowing leaves, and more.
So this is never a good sign when you are managing a team of equally talented individuals. Therefore, be sure to treat everyone reasonably within the team, if required take help from the time and attendance management system to regulate this process keeping it fair & balanced.
9. Challenging Own Managerial Skill
In order to stay at the top of your managerial game, you are constantly required to regularly measure your skills in business competitions. Otherwise, you may just stay outdated in your mindset and become incapable of knowing how to handle and resolve modern-day business problems.
It is always better not to stay in one place. Always look to upgrade your skills and keep an eye on all the latest trends that are going around you. So that you can adapt quickly and keep yourself ready for any upcoming latest challenges knowing what to do in such critical circumstances.
Therefore, constantly keep on testing your skills so that you can easily understand where you stand with the other managers within your fraternity. You may also participate in several contests or take sophisticated management skill development courses to find out where you need to improve.
10. Having Fun & Sharing Light Moments
Due to the stress of a continuous workload, any team could get bored and frustrated after a while. So, as a manager in such a situation, you would need to make sure your team is staying focused and feeling relaxed to enjoy themselves while working.
So make yourself available to pass some good time with them in-between working hours. Share a light moment or crack a joke with them. You can also plan happy hours, lunch/dinner outings, or field trips every other month to keep it light and entertaining for the team.
Always remember that the “All work no play” policy could very well backfire on you in the long run as having fun & enjoying themselves at work is an integral part that leads to a team's efficiency and success. And as a manager, you would surely want that, wouldn't you?
Top 3 Successful Manager Examples to Follow
1. Tim Cook (Apple Inc.)
Tim Cook became the CEO of Apple Inc. in 2011, following the legendary Steve Jobs. Under his leadership, Apple has continued to innovate and grow, becoming one of the most valuable companies in the world.
Cook's management style is characterized by his operational expertise and attention to detail. He has successfully managed Apple's complex supply chain and maintained its high product quality. Cook is also known for his calm demeanor and focus on inclusivity, promoting diversity within the company, and addressing social issues.
2. Mary Barra (General Motors)
Mary Barra became the CEO of General Motors (GM) in 2014, making history as the first female CEO of a major global automaker. Barra has successfully navigated GM through significant challenges, including recalls and the shift towards electric vehicles.
Her management style combines a deep understanding of engineering with a focus on innovation and sustainability. Barra has emphasized the importance of a customer-centric approach, leading GM to invest heavily in electric and autonomous vehicles, positioning the company for future growth.
3. Satya Nadella (Microsoft)
Satya Nadella took over as CEO of Microsoft in 2014 and has transformed the company by focusing on cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Under his leadership, Microsoft's market value has more than tripled.
Nadella's management style is inclusive and empathetic, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. He shifted Microsoft's strategy towards cloud services, leading to the success of products like Azure and Office 365. Nadella is known for his growth mindset, encouraging employees to continuously learn and adapt.
Bonus: One Tool That Helps You in Your Journey of Being a Great Manager
Lastly, one can't also deny the fact that a manager good or great always needs to make sure their team maintains the right workflows and their tasks are being well taken care of.
So, many of them out there uses some kind of task or project management tools to assist them in this cause. And one choice for such an innovative project management tool could be WP Project Manager.
It enables a manager to help automate & organize his own task list including managing & tracking the team's tasks. Its task automation and time management features make the team collaboration better and help meet deadlines more efficiently.
Not just for managers who are only managing their own tasks, but also anyone needing to create, organize, assign projects, tasks, to-dos or to manage their work with deadlines, milestones, subtasks, activities, progress reports & advanced insights can also smartly manage any number of teams with this interactive project management tool.
Wrapping up the How to Be a Better Manager
By now it is already well established that it's not everyone's cup of tea to become a great manager that their teams or they themselves want to be.
Whether it is for managing a regular team at the office or a remote team working from home, you got to have those certain basic qualities and potential in you that were discussed above to actually turn out to be one someday.
More importantly, once you become a manager, you should permanently remember you are always responsible for creating an environment where your team members can grow and achieve their goals in a way they have never imagined.
And that is how you can become ‘A Great Manager‘ for your team instead of staying as ‘Just A Manager‘ for them.
If you are managing a team remotely, you can check our blog to get ideas to manage a remote team efficiently. Good luck!
