Here are sharing five practical tips for becoming a better people manager.
These skills help a people manager have a positive impact on the team.
Becoming a good people manager isn’t easy. So we want to share five practical tips for becoming a better people manager.
Do you remember learning how to ride a bicycle? It is sort of like that.
Being a good manager takes skills, knowledge and experience.
Good people managers don’t just appear. They hone their skills and learn how to become a good people manager (or they don’t).”
Just like learning how to ride a bicycle, becoming an effective, respected and good people manager takes practice.
Like learning to balance on a two wheeler, people managers need to train their responses and carefully consider other factors when advising their delegates.
Like bicycles, where different styles are good for different phases of life…emerging managers and established managers have different outlooks and experiences. Regardless of tenure, a good people manager is looking to improve. These practical tips and ideas can help build a strong rapport with delegate/s.
Here are 5 Tips any manager can put into practice to improve their people management skills.
- Listen to your delegates, observe their performance and attend manager trainings
- Be a resource for your team, maintain trust and keep things confidential
- Check your bias at the door, be open to new ideas and adapt those ideas to suit the situation
- Address all performance issues immediately- start with a conversation and be precise and clear with your communications
- Be firm AND show empathy – be open to learning about other resources, if an employee needs additional help connect them
Bonus Tip: Consult with your HR partner if you are unsure of any step along the way
Riding a bike isn’t a one size fits all, guarantee. Just like being a good people manager isn’t something people are born with.
Learning ride a bike isn’t easy.
Okay, now, back to learning how to ride a bicycle….I started out on a tricycle. The trike was a Christmas gift my first Christmas. I also received a cute wooden rocking chair that I loved to rock on. Once tired of rocking out, I would ride my trike.
After mastering the trike, (and passing it along to my younger sister) I had a new big wheel. IYKYK. After that learned how to ride a two wheeler.
It took a lot of practice. I fell a lot.
My first two wheeler bicycle was avocado green and yellow. It had tall handlebars with white rubber grippers, a white basket decorated with daisies and a banana seat also with daisies.
When I was learning to ride my two wheeler. I fell a lot. I scraped my elbows and knees and got bruised. But, I was determined…I wanted to ride my new two wheeler all around my neighborhood like the big kids. Even though I have always been tall, when I first started learning I needed blocks attached on the pedals to help my legs reach. I needed help to reach the pedals!
Oh, and I practiced a lot. I learned to ride my two wheeler in the driveway and on the street in front of my house. Eventually, I was able to cruise around my Long Island neighborhood with my neighborhood friends.
My friends, also rode banana seat bikes. We were cool.
As a newbie rider, I also had a safety flagpole with an orange flag attached to the top. It was somehow hooked onto the rear wheel and waved back and forth as I sped along with my pals.
The safety flag was like a “caution” sign, signaling to drivers that there was a new bike rider ahead, and to watch out!
I guess, this way if cars driving in the neighborhood didn’t see us, they would see our orange flags flying and waving along the streets ahead and they would slow down.
When I was 12 I used my babysitting money and bought my very own twelve speed Fuji. The Fuji was royal blue and my prized possession.
My sister bought and rode a black Fuji 12 speed. We loved our curved handlebars with the two sets of handbrakes. The was a set of brakes on the top handlebar and a set down lower on the curves for when you wanted to ride more aerodynamically. Oh, did we ride! We rode all around our new neighborhood, which was really hilly, especially compared to flat Long Island. Riding the hills in Bedford required the help of the different gears on my Fuji.
In adulthood I bought an LL Bean beach cruiser bike. It is baby blue. It is a beauty. I love it. It is is a step through bike with good old fashion upright handlebars. I have no need for speed when I ride my bike nowadays. This bike is a delight. I have a bell on the handlebars. The bell sounds so good, like brrrring, brrring, brrrring. I ring it and say, “on your right” when I am cruising. This works great for leisurely rides along the boardwalk. And, I attach a wicker basket to the handlebars for beach rides. The basket is great for holding my water bottle and a wireless speaker. When I cruise with my brother’s kids we love to rock out to a summer playlist and ride.
Curious about hearing more?
As a new manager, it is important to be a receptive ear and support your team. New Here is a podcast for new professionals by HBR. The tagline is: “a guide to work and how to make it work for you” You can listen to the New Here pod on the HBR-Harvard Business Review website, on spotify, apple music or where ever you listen to podcasts. Or by using this link.
Read more about KIR Co and Kirsten’s thoughts on business, career development, networking and driving company growth here
As an experienced manager, mentor, coach and leader. I know people don’t just “become” good managers. They need to fine tune their soft skills and gain experience through trainings and course work. It can take lots of learning to become a good manager.
