The life of a manager is not always easy. First and foremost, they must have the knowledge or skills that the company can rely on, but they must also ensure that employee involvement remains high. Managers are therefore often expected to set an example and create a committed working environment. To help you get started, we list below a number of qualities that enable a good manager to maintain that involvement in the workplace.
1 – Independent learning
Furthermore, managers often want to solve all problems themselves, but employees must also continue to learn. It is inherent to the learning process that mistakes can be made. A good manager recognizes the moment when he needs to help the employee himself or when the employee needs to figure things out on their own.
2- Self-awareness
Moreover, a good manager knows very well what his or her strengths and weaknesses are. Therefore, they ensure that the people around them work in a complementary way on the areas where they still need improvement.
3- Positivity
Furthermore, it will not always be all sunshine and roses within a company, but the truth is that negativity will not generate engagement. Therefore, the manager is expected to be able to focus on the positive aspects and turn a setback into a new opportunity.
4- Feedback
Furthermore, one of the best ways to create employee engagement is by making them part of the process. Ask them for feedback and opinions. That way, they know their comments or criticism are welcome, helping to achieve better performance together.
5- Making choices
Therefore, in line with point 4: a good manager involves his employees in decision-making. We are not only talking here about the easy decisions that need to be made, but certainly also about the more complex issues within the company. These managers recognize the moments when an employee needs to make a decision themselves, which decisions need to be made for the team, or when they must stem from collaboration.
6- Stakeholder management
As a result, a good manager understands the importance of stakeholder management. Informing and keeping senior management updated regarding the work and progress being made within the manager's team is an important process. In this way, they ensure that the company's efforts and resources continue to move in the right direction.
7- Delegation
Furthermore, delegating work is often difficult for managers who prefer to do everything themselves. However, a good manager has sufficient insight into the work he or she needs to do personally, or delegate to others within the team. These managers feel comfortable when employees acquire new skills in this way.
Manager and handling objections
Objections are not rejections either, but opportunities. When a customer raises an objection, they indicate that they are considering your proposal. That is positive. The trick is to take the objection seriously, to ask about the underlying reason, and then to respond in a targeted manner. Not by dismissing the objection, but by showing that you understand what is on the customer's mind.
In short, an effective technique is acknowledging the objection before responding. “I understand that the investment is substantial” works better than immediately going on the defensive. By showing acknowledgment, the customer feels heard and is more open to your perspective. You can then use concrete examples and calculations to demonstrate the return on investment.
For example, do you want to strengthen your skills? Check out our Next Generation Management training join Kenneth Smit and take the first step today.