How to Become a Better Manager: What You Need to Do to Earn Respect from Employees

Posted on 20th January 2022

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Being a manager is no easy task. There is simply no hiding that you have a lot on your plate. Taking responsibility, ensuring consistent profit, and getting satisfactory results are just a few of the important aspects to think about.

The truth is that your list of priorities goes on and on. Arguably, however, overseeing your employees in an efficient manner should take precedence over most of your duties. Indeed, managing a team that is cohesive and respects you is the prime ingredient in a perfect recipe for business.

A manager who neglects their workers and their achievements certainly won’t gain their sympathy. Dissatisfied and demoralised, it is likely that employees will move to their company’s competitor at the first opportunity.

Therefore, what should you do to become a better manager? We share a few tips on how to bring about a leadership transformation that will win you the appreciation, loyalty, and respect of your staff.

Respect yourself

The first fundamental step to take is to have respect for yourself. By that, we mean that you should act and behave correctly, and live harmoniously with others. In fact, you cannot expect respect from your employees if you do not treat them respectfully too.

For instance, do not shout at them or ridicule staff members in front of the rest of the team. Would you like that to happen to you? The answer is, of course, no. As the Roman adage goes; “do unto others as you would have done unto you”. Essentially, don’t treat your workers in a way that you wouldn’t want them to treat you.

Create a positive environment

Striving to make your work a happy and positive environment will go a long way towards making you a better manager. A workplace that is full of stress, tension, and unsupportive relations, however, will have a negative impact on your employees.

Addressing any issues or dissatisfaction from the outset will help you maintain a calm, cooperative atmosphere. Whether you’re counselling staff members who have run into a problem or handling mishaps promptly, you will allow your team to thrive and perform at a high standard.

Favour relationships over results

Yes, the end result is crucial. But you will rarely achieve a good outcome if you do not show people that you care about them. Indeed, to nurture a productive and motivated workplace, it is important for a manager to cultivate relationships with their workers.

Therefore, take time to learn a bit more about them. What are their professional goals? What are their personal interests? Also, do not disregard any potential private situations that may be troubling them. Show professional empathy and, when possible, offer support within the workplace to accommodate their needs.

Know your employees

Everybody is different in many varied ways. You may know your workers’ roles and job responsibilities, but have you figured out each of their personalities?

One of the best ways to develop a healthy and thorough understanding of your employees is to have one-to-one conversations with them from time to time. You may discover that your social media producer is quite reserved and does not like being the centre of attention. Or you may learn that your financial executive enjoys taking part in group discussions.

Ultimately, by better understanding their unique characters, you will be able to shape their role and realise their true potential.

Delegate and offer responsibility

Delegating tasks and offering your employees authority over certain projects will work wonders for their confidence. Moreover, it will also foster a climate of mutual trust and respect from which the business will truly benefit.

By all means, be there to offer a helping hand if they ever require some advice. However, giving your employees a margin of responsibility will empower them and demonstrate your trust in their skills.

Give and ask for feedback

Communication and honest conversations are the basis of any good relationship. In the workplace, a good manager should provide their workers with clear and transparent feedback. Make sure that you do this in one-to-one meetings to avoid your staff feeling uncomfortable. Feedback should always be constructive, so it will motivate your employees rather than dishearten them.

Likewise, it is important for you as a manager to receive feedback from your team. This will earn you respect as people in the office will see that you are willing to take action to improve both the work environment and your managerial skills.

Demonstrate work ethic

As the leader of your team, you should lead by example. Show your employees that you are working and contributing towards the success of the business just as much as they are. That way, you will build a strong sense of respect and trust.

Ultimately, if workers realise that the manager is doing their bit, rather than throwing everything at staff, they will be even more driven to help the business grow.

Captaining a team of employees comes with a wide range of challenges. By following these tips, you will be able to earn respect and appreciation from your staff, while also improving as a manager and a person.