Being a manager means making sure everyone is putting in the work and a big part of that is knowing how to balance autonomy and accountability. Whether it’s managing creatives or overseeing freight unloadings, you don’t want to micromanage, but you also don’t want inefficiency that hurts the business.
Here are 3 helpful tips.
Delegate with Clarity
Clear delegation means everyone’s on the same page, reducing confusion and mistakes. Plus, it shows trust in your team’s abilities, boosting morale.
You want to:
- Spell out a task’s goals, deadlines, and any important details
- Offer support and answer any questions to avoid misunderstandings
- Trust your team to handle it their way, as long as the result meets expectations
Say you’re assigning a project to design a new website layout. You give a clear brief with the target audience, branding guidelines, and a deadline. Then, you let the team decide how to tackle it. One member might focus on user experience, while another focuses on visuals. As long as the final design fits the brief, they’re free to use their creativity.
Encourage Ownership
When people feel like they own their work, they’re more motivated and likely to go the extra mile. It’s about empowering them to take charge and be proud of what they do.
You want to:
- Let them have a say in setting goals and figuring out how to reach them
- Encourage them to take initiative and make decisions without waiting for instructions
- Offer opportunities for learning and growth to keep them engaged
Imagine you’re leading a project to launch a new product. Instead of micromanaging, you involve the team in brainstorming ideas and planning the rollout. Each member takes ownership of a specific aspect, like marketing strategy or customer outreach. They feel invested in the project’s success and so put in the extra effort to make it a hit.
Celebrate Successes and Learn from Failures
Recognizing achievements boosts morale and keeps the team motivated. And learning from failures turns setbacks into valuable lessons for future success.
You want to:
- Give shout-outs and rewards for jobs well done to show appreciation
- Encourage open discussions about what went right and what could’ve gone better
- Treat mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than finger-pointing exercises
Picture you’re leading a sales team. At the end of a big quarter, you gather everyone to celebrate hitting targets with a pizza party and some high-fives. But you also take time to talk about deals that fell through and what could’ve been done differently. It’s all about celebrating wins and turning losses into lessons for next time.
Admittedly, being a manager can be tricky. There’s a lot to balance after all. Still, there are plenty of ways to manage a team effectively. Try out these tips!
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