Be a Better Manager

I’ve been wondering how I can be a better manager, and I’m often asked HOW to be a better manager, so here’s some initial thoughts:

Listen to your team – When you’re in a team meeting, listen to what your team says, and doesn’t say. When you have your weekly meetings, tune them in and tune the world out.

Ask more questions – Every week during their one-on-ones, I ask a magic question: “What can I do to be a better manager for you?” When folks first start on my team, they’re shy to share this, but after 3 or 4 months of me asking this question, and making changes based on what others have said and the whisper mill getting out that I really do care, folks start to tell me what I can do to be better. Recently suggestion: “I need a BlackBerry so I can provide better support for our BlackBerry users.” Done. We now have a team BlackBerry. Other suggestions: “Tell me what I’m doing wrong more so I can improve.” “I’m going to be going through some tough personal issues in the fall. Be there to listen to me.”

Follow-through on suggestions – If your team makes a suggestion, like my team did in the previous point, I try to follow through, even if I can’t deliver what they asked. I’ve had my team ask for dual-monitors (can’t do because of cost right now), free lunches (can’t do it every day, but I can do it occasionally), more “jeans days” (we get 6 of these this summer but we can’t do it every week) and other things. I share the status, why we can’t do it (or possibly how we can do it a little differently and make it work) or when we will be implementing it. Follow-through even if it’s not great news. It shows you care and that you’re listening.

Thank more specifically and more often – I’m working really hard at this one and it’s tough, because I am spending WAY more time in planning meetings than I’d like to, which means less team time where I can sit in and listen to my team on the phone, review tickets, and walk around. It means I have to be way better when I’m at my desk to notice things and then say “Great job helping John get his laptop working” or “Way to go above and beyond with Jane on her BlackBerry issue” (plus a little more about why that was impactful and wonderful. I’ve enlisted the help of folks on my team to catch each other doing something right, and this seems to have helped. Which brings me to my last point:

Ask for help more – Lately I’ve asked the senior people on my team to be even more my eyes and ears, and to help the others when they ask for it. This means the senior folks output is less…but our team output is more. I’ve also asked my manager for help prioritizing things better and to help keep me on track. It seems to be working and folks seem to enjoy having someone there. Your team wants SOMEONE to notice their work and wants SOMEONE there to help. It doesn’t have to be you.

I’m sure you have some great suggestions on how to be a better manager. Don’t be shy…

What are your tips for being a better manager?

Thank you Marisa photo credit to bandita