8 Tips for Managing Your Team Effectively

8 Tips for Managing Your Team Effectively The role of a manager  isnt always smooth sailing. Whereas at the beginning of your career  its likely that you were purely  responsible for your work alone, its is now your duty to inspire, lead and motivate your team to accomplish a set of goals for the organization. Easier said than done right? Not everyone is going to be easy to work with and ensuring everything is running without a hitch can often prove a challenge. So how can you go about being a great manager  who displays authority and leadership, at the same time as maintaining respect from their peers? Here are a few of our top tips for effective management. 1) Maintain good communication Employees want to be kept in the loop about ongoing projects, goals, and deadlines, so its essential that you communicate well with them and inform them about goings-on within the organization. Its also essential that you encourage feedback and that your staff  feel that they can approach you with any questions or issues they want to address, so making yourself accessible to your staff  is critical. 2) Build positive working relationships Its important to get to know members of your team individually,  not only on a professional level but on a more personal level too. When you put the effort in to get to know a bit more about how your colleagues  are doing and what they are interested in, it will build a much better rapport among the team. 3) Acknowledge good work Dont be one of these bosses who only gives feedback when youve got something to criticise! By providing your staff with positive feedback it will help to build their confidence and encourage them to get more involved in the future,  so its vital that you acknowledge their achievements and the effort that they are putting in. Encourage creativity and ensure that everyone is clear about what is expected of them. 4) Be real Your team doesnt expect you to be superhuman, so if youre feeling the pressure and need a helping hand, dont be afraid to admit it and if you make a mistake, own up! By showing the human side of yourself and allowing your staff to get to know you a bit better, your team will feel more relaxed and comfortable approaching you. 5) Be decisive A good leader needs to be able to assert their authority and make important decisions for the team. There is no space for flakiness in a leadership role, so its crucial that you stick to your guns and go with what you feel is best the business. 6) Delegate jobs to the right people Part of why it is vital that you establish a relationship with your team and get to know them individually is so you can assess what their strengths are. People perform better  and are more engaged  in roles where they feel they are employing their best skills, so delegating proper  functions that suit each will have a significant impact on the productivity of the team. 7) Manage conflict When there is conflict in the workplace, it should not be ignored. Turning a blind eye could lead to a negative atmosphere, which could have implications for staff productivity and  communication among the team may suffer. When an issue arises, its crucial that it is addressed straight away before it builds. 8) Set a good example Your staff will look to you for guidance and inspiration, so its essential that you set a good example to gain their respect. If you expect them to behave professionally and commit to their work, its vital that you do so yourself. Make sure that you are doing your job, continuing to develop your career  and support your team in doing so too.