BUSINESS FEATURE

TIPS ON EFFECTIVE PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

Kriya Govender, Managing Director at PRP Solutions, says that life is a juggling act. This is especially for women, who need to be extra nimble and dexterous to face the challenges of managing at home and in the workplace. Here are a few pointers on how to become an effective manager.

Manage your time well

Time management is about getting all your daily duties completed in a reasonable amount of time. By setting daily goals for both your home and work life, you will be able to enjoy a sense of accomplishment. Don’t set goals that will be impossible to reach! If it’s your goal to finish a business proposal, make it your top priority during the workday. If you’re determined to finally wrap all your holiday gifts, make that your evening’s primary task.

Acknowledge the positive

Focus on the positive aspects of your staff and their work, because positivity breeds positivity. Genuine and meaningful praise goes a long way to making your work life tick along nicely. If this is difficult for you, get into the habit of noting down positive things you notice about your staff and give positive feedback on a regular basis. Let the people you work with know that you see the good work they do.

Lead by example

Leaders are the people that are most often watched. Give your staff reason to believe in you by maintaining a professional yet approachable stance at all times.

Be self-aware

This point is often overlooked by people in senior managerial roles. It is important to always be aware of your emotions and to manage them accordingly. If you’re going through a difficult time, be sure to not let it affect how you treat your staff. Managing your emotions well in the workplace not only affects those around you but it also demonstrates a level of maturity in the manager.

Bring an element of fun into the office

While it is important to maintain a level of professionalism, it doesn’t help anyone if you shut yourself off from your team members and refuse to engage with them personally, as you could appear unapproachable, which could lead to tension in your workplace. Be sure to go out for lunches and afternoon drinks when invited to do so. By taking an active, personal interest in your staff, you’ll create a positive work atmosphere and be in a better position to deal with challenges if they arise.

Get a handle on your administrative tasks by making use of clever technology

Managers often get bogged down with administratively intense duties, leaving their teams without strategic counsel and mentorship. Invest in technology that will allow you to coach your team, rather than spending all your valuable time pushing paper. For example, PRP Solutions has invented a tool which enables managers to spend more time managing people by automating all administrative tasks such as timesheet reporting and salaries. It provides reporting in real time which can be accessed from any device, including smart phones and computers, which means the managerial team is free to focus on team mentoring and support.

Forgive easily

It is human to make mistakes, and we all mess up or fail at some point. Admit to your errors, do your best to rectify them and step in to resolve any issues. Nobody, least of all your staff, expect you to be fail-proof and, sometimes, making mistakes are what highlights your very humanity to others. Never be tempted to hold grudges as this only hinders individual progress and creates an atmosphere of a lack of trust.

Don’t be afraid to manage

inherited. Practice managing and making the tough decisions, because these things get easier with experience.

Be humble

Being humble doesn’t mean becoming the office doormat. It means being confident but approachable. Confidence inspires, attracts, excites and ignites. Confidence without humility, however, can be dangerous. When we are humble, no experience is beneath us and no colleague is unworthy. Always conduct self-reality checks to maintain a healthy level of humility.

Be supportive of your team

You need to have your team’s back. There is nothing more discouraging or demotivating than feeling like your manager does not support you. Take care of your team, insulate them from the distractions or politics that may intrude upon their work, and focus on empowering them to perform at their very best. If your staff genuinely feel and can see that you are on their side and you’ve given them every tool they need to perform adequately, they will do their best not to let you down. In this situation, “having their backs” means protecting and mentoring them if anything goes wrong, supporting them in the work they do, and reassuring them of their abilities to complete work to the very best standard required.

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