How to become a better manager in 2022

It’s been a tough run for managers all around the world. We know you’re fresh off the back of two of the most difficult years you’ve had in your professional career. Managing your way through 2020 and 2021 has been incredibly difficult. We’ve all been working in situations we have never seen before. 

But you are, no doubt, still looking for ways to become a better manager in 2022. 

The world is on its way back to normal, though we still don’t really know what this year has in store. Some of you will be managing teams who are still working from home. Some of you might never go back to the ‘old normal’. That is why you need to keep developing yourself. 

Don’t underestimate your importance. 50% of employees say that when they quit, they are quitting their boss, not their job. If you want to build a strong, happy, and reliable team, you need to start with yourself. 

Scheduling regular check ins with a remote team

Managing a team since the Pandemic has presented its own issues. One of the biggest things that managers have had to adjust to is working remotely. 

Some of the challenges of remote work include lack of face-to-face supervision, social isolation, and distractions related to working at home. 

Using video conferencing software to establish face-to-face is a great way to create a sense of community among your remote team members. 

Dr. John Behr, experienced executive coach with over 25 years’ experience says: 

“As humans, we all need to feel a connection with those around us. Even in the workplace. We don’t just change as people because we have digital technology. Which is why video conferencing is a useful tool.”

Inspire your employees

A study of 50,000 leaders by Harvard Business School found that inspiration creates employs who are engaged and committed, and Bain found that inspired employees are twice as productive as satisfied employees. 

Learning how you can be an inspiring leader will help you get the very best out of your employees, and we all know that happy and inspired employees are much easier to manage than uninspired employees. 

Better communication skills

69% of managers are uncomfortable communicating with their employees. If you are of the of the 31% of managers who are comfortable communicating with your employees, you are a cut above the rest.

86% of employees and executives cite a lack of effective collaboration and communication as the reason there are failures in the workplace, and that is a really good reason to work on your communication skills.

Communication does not come naturally to everyone. If you struggle to communicate with your staff, look for some professional support to develop your communication skills. Regularly communicating company successes and failures, your own personal opinions, and giving feedback, both good and bad, to employees are just some of the ways you can step up your communication this year, but make sure you learn how to do this in the right way.

Be authentic

Nobody expects you to be perfect. And if your employees see you as an authentic and genuine human being, it is going to make you seem more approachable, especially to people who are struggling, and those are the exact employees you want to come to you when they need you. 

Share your struggles with your employees. Tell them your story. We’re not saying you need to tell your colleagues everything about your entire life, but they should know a little bit about who you are. This will make them feel like they can open up to you and motivate them to do their best on the team’s behalf.

Motivate your team with recognition

According to research at Harvard Business School, 80% of American employees feel like they are not recognised or rewarded by their employer or manager for their work. We’re not talking about paying (which is imminently important), we’re talking about other ways of acknowledging good work. Sometimes a genuine and heartfelt thank you is enough. 

There are many ways to motivate your team, and having a strong network of other leaders to communicate with can help you find effective ways to motivate your team. Never underestimate the value of learning from other people, whether in person or online.

That brings us to our next point, and probably the most important. 

Develop yourself as a leader by speaking to other leaders

There is a big difference between leadership and management. Leaders are expected to manage and inspire their employees by leading with motivation and setting a good example. 

It is important you recognise this, because one retention report in 2019 showed that 100% of respondents cited high quality leadership as a key factor in their happiness and their retention. Your staff are looking for a strong and effective leader. 

LeaderBridge can help. Our unique platform allows you to connect to other founders anonymously for a unique perspective and general advice. 

There’s no headhunting or sales allowed on our platform, so you can browse for genuine and honest solutions to your issues. 

Ask questions, share answers, broaden perspectives, and uncover unique solutions. 

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