Do other managers seem to have high performing teams while you struggle to hold your team together? Do you sweat when you have to give your staff bad news or discipline a struggling employee? Learning to manage involves gaining the confidence you need to perform your job well. Whether you are lacking confidence because you haven’t gotten the leadership training that you need, or just need a mental boost, the following tips will help to improve your management skills quickly.
1. Practice making decisions or taking actions that take you out of your comfort zone. For example, if you want to create a more cohesive team, start by chatting with employees once per day. Alternatively, if you want to build your knowledge, dedicate at least one day per month to shadowing and training.
2. Pinpoint your struggles so you know where to concentrate your efforts. Keep in mind whether your lack of confidence is due to an atypical situation, such as working at a new company, or even feelings of inadequacy stemming from other areas of your life. You can’t solve a problem until you know its source.
3. Look at your strengths and your personal/professional goals. If you’re like most people, you fixate on your weaknesses and dismiss the areas in which you excel. Chances are other managers are secretly wishing they could be just like you in some aspects.
4. Learn from others. Ask your boss to introduce you to her friends across the company. Consult your fellow managers about how they get things done. Find an impartial mentor who can offer suggestions without being directly involved in your daily work life.
5. Build positive relationships with your co-workers, subordinates, and supervisors. Men and women are much more willing to forgive mistakes when they trust you. Learn how to communicate effectively so that your instructions are clear and your motives are never misunderstood.
6. Start small, achieve victories, and feel your confidence build. For example, try accepting responsibility for your team’s mistakes while sharing credit for successes.
7. Think positively. Other managers have gotten through difficult management situations, and you will too.
Dianne Shaddock
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