Part of your business goals (call them resolutions) for 2014 should cover being a better manager. Just because you run a small business doesn’t necessarily make you the best communicator or leader, but with a few objectives, you can improve your skills and make for happier employees.
- I Will be a Better Listener. Every manager thinks he’s a great listener, but that’s not always the case. Listening involves more than just ears; it requires you to glean what an employee is actually telling you. For example, if a staffer is telling you she’s got a problem, what she might really be telling you is that she’s unhappy and thinking of looking for another job. It’s up to you to be proactive and do something about what your employees say.
- I Will Be a Better Communicator. The other side of the listening coin is communicating. It’s unfair of you to get upset when an employee doesn’t meet your expectations if she doesn’t know what your expectations are. Be clear in all your communications, be it in-person, over the phone, or via email.
- I Will Learn Better Management Skills. Read management books and blogs. Attend workshops. Strive to be better, and never think you’re at the top of the mountain, for you never will be.
- I Will Help My Employees Feel Vested in My Company. This is your company, remember. Not theirs. So it shouldn’t be a surprise when they don’t do their best or quit all of a sudden. They have no vested interest in the success of your business. You’ve got to infuse excitement and loyalty in them (by displaying it yourself) so that they care what happens to your business.
- I Will Not Micromanage. No one is productive if you’re breathing over their shoulder. This requires a great deal of trust on your part: trust that your staff can do the job you hired them to do. Let go of your Type A personality and see if they can handle it. More than likely, they can.
- I Will Provide Constructive Feedback. While many employees get nervous when annual review time comes around, it’s actually a great opportunity for dialogue. Go over each employee’s accomplishments in the past year, and provide feedback that will help each do a better job. Set objectives for each employee to achieve in the upcoming year, and help each succeed.
- I Will Get to Know My Staff. This likely isn’t an issue if you’re a teeny tiny business. But as you grow, it becomes harder to keep track of who’s got kids, spouses, or pets, and what all of their names are. Don’t be complacent; as both the manager and the business owner, you set the tone for your company. Make it a warm and personable one by spending time with your employees.
- I Will Delegate. Part of that Type A personality often means you’re reluctant to hand over tasks to others. After all, who can do the job better than you? The thing is, you can’t do 100 things well. You can do one thing well, and the other 99 poorly. Find people who are better than you at these tasks and let go.
- I Will Pay Attention to the Big Picture. It’s important to take care of the daily tasks you have, but don’t lose sight of the grand scheme of things. You need to ensure that you’re working toward your company’s strategy every day.
- I Will Not Be Afraid to Step Aside. You might not even make the best manager for your employees. In that case, you will admit you’re not the best person for the job and find someone who is. Then you can focus on running your business.
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