Becoming a Better Manager

I used to be good at my job. Then, as if to prove that no good deed goes unpunished, I was promoted to manager and everything fell apart.

I was AWFUL at it. I thought I could just carry on doing my previous role, have the odd chat with one of my team and everything would sort of work itself out. I was very very wrong. I was underprepared and overwhelmed - I wasn't expecting the demands on my time and attention, and I didn't understand the larger impact that my moods, actions and words had in my new position.

It took some intervention from my team, my manager and my client for me to understand where I was going wrong, and I learnt a few really simple things from that experience that helped me become a better manager.

LET GO

Yes, most of us are made managers because we're good at something else. You will have to let go of that expertise a little and accept that your role has changed. As far as possible, your job is to make other people as good as you used to be.

GET ORGANISED

You don't just have your own priorities any more, you also have the priorities of your team to think about and juggle. If you don't have a good personal organisational system, you will melt. I'd recommend David Allen's book 'Getting things Done' for system that will flex and scale as your responsibilities increase.

LISTEN WELL

You need to make time to listen so you can support your people. Active listening techniques and mindfulness can help you stay present and focussed in the moment. And remember - it's their moment. You shouldn't be doing the talking.

DON'T GIVE ANSWERS, ASK QUESTIONS

The best way to make sure your people don't grow and remain reliant on you is to always give them the answer. But you don't - can't - know everything and it's not your job to. So get comfortable asking them open questions to enable them to make their own decisions, and support them in those decisions. Usually the most important thing is the outcome, not how they get there, so be willing to let them find their own way.

Tim Sismey, Founder, Make Work Work Better

Tim Sismey is the founder of Make Work Work Better (make-work.work), a process and productivity consultancy transforming how organisations approach Mental Health and Wellbeing. His approach is based on Lean techniques and the ground-breaking 'Getting Things Done' productivity method and is aligned to the ISO 45003 standard for Psychological Health & Safety. He lives in Warwickshire with his wife, two sons and too many records. 

Join Tim for his latest webinars, aimed at new or developing managers. Register below.