Saeed's Blogs: Being a Manager

Saeed's Blogs: Being a Manager: Being a manager might seem as easy as just delegating tasks, keeping an eye on employees and having a lavish office. Managers get paid mo...

Being a Manager

Being a manager might seem as easy as just delegating tasks, keeping an eye on employees and having a lavish office. Managers get paid more than the others and seem to have more authority. Hence these differences make the position prestigious. But it certainly is more than that. The hardest part is establishing influence and winning trust at the same time. Following points play a vital role in the life of a Manager and hence one should keep these in mind while he/she climbing the ladder to success.

1.      The Downside of Being a Manager:

A fancy personal office and a lot of authority may seem attractive at first, but eventually there is a price one has to pay for all of this. Keep in mind that, you have been selected for this position because you have the right frame of mind and your boss has confidence in your abilities. Hence, you will face the following crises but nevertheless, it is part of the game:

a.      Wearing the Badge of Honor: Most of the times you might be carrying out the orders made above you even if you don’t really agree. Sometimes orders are imposed without the advice or consultation of a manager. The situation seems distressing as a manager might see the intricacies not considered by the senior officials. But you have to live with it as it is a part of the bargain.

b.      The Burden of Accountability: Being a manager, you are not only in charge of your own deeds but the deeds of your team as well. You can’t always keep an eye on everything they do. But if something goes wrong, you simply don’t have the luxury of withdrawing your responsibility because at this rank you are responsible for all those working under you.

c.       Lonely at the Top: The ladder to the top often makes people lonely. A boss is not supposed to be closer to his team as are the other employees. In order to make tough decisions objectively, it is important to be aloof. It is often observed than once a person is promoted from within a group, he/she quickly becomes frigid and distant.

2.      Legal Liabilities:

Most employees are exempted from legal liabilities. But a manager is not one of the lucky ones. Managerial tasks frequently include signing imperative documents and making decisions. They need to keep the workplace safe and free from harassment of any type. If one fails in any of the responsibilities, he/she might face legal action.

3.       Your Job is Very Attractive:

Being a manager definitely sounds like a dream job from outside. People are always hunting for such positions. You can’t afford to make mistakes because that might prove to be a golden chance for the potential opportunists. Many people from your own work group may have the feeling that they can prove to be a better choice for the post and they are more competent. The best agenda in such circumstances would be to be extremely careful and take each step deliberately. Your each move should be unhurried and with dignity.

4.      Greater Workload:

Being a manager is synonymous to being a workaholic. An employee simply needs to do his/her own work but a manager has more to do; he/she has to supervise people, prepare reports and mandates for the company. An employee might be asked to attend a meeting or a seminar. But a manager has more to do; he/she needs to arrange all these happenings. The manager could be called at odd hours to see to an incomplete task. Whether a manager works for 8 hours or 16 hours, the pay of the day remains the same.

5.      Becoming a Public Figure:

A boss is much like a celebrity and he/she is definitely talked about. He/She would be the subject of someone’s dinner conversation and the hot topic for gossip at lunch break. His/hers acts are under hawk eyes. The endeavors of a manager serve as a guidance to what behavior is acceptable and not. It is vital to be very formal in every action and rational in words. A role model is often not forgiven for the mistakes.

6.      Firing an Employee:

Firing an employee is a tricky business. This is one of the distressing decisions a manager might have to make. Depriving someone of their income sounds nasty. It is essential that the reasons are factual and rational so that your conscience does not feel guilty. Breaking the bad news to the unlucky employee would require the right words. The reaction you get for sacking someone is the most complicated to predict. A manager can get the company in legal hot water if the employee is not fired properly.

7.      Keys to Becoming a Great Manager:

The discussion above proves that management is definitely not a piece of cake. But it is rightly said “Where there’s will, there’s a way”.

8.       Building Trust with the Employees:

Building trust in workplace is vital for smooth functioning. Trust is a two-way street. Management is more about inspiring people and making them live your dream. Employees should be of the view that they are deemed competent and capable of the designated tasks.

9.      Creating Winning Opportunities for People:

Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. A good manager has the ability of looking into people’s capabilities and assigning them tasks accordingly to produce better results. Every person in a company wants to play a productive role. It comes down to the manager to produce winning opportunities.

10. Communication Skills and the Art of Persuasion:

The power of public speaking and taking a stand for ideas distinguishes a manager from his/her subordinates. Often, it is required to get the remarkable ideas flow into the team and make the people understand the expected outcome. The right words and apt tone can make a significant difference. Similarly, it is important to be persuasive. Making people work forcefully is far less effective than persuading them for the objectives one has in the mind. Listening to others is equally important as discussion can let the stagnant ideas flow.

11. Making People Happy:

A good manager inspires people and induces confidence. People want to follow their steps and live their dreams with them while a bad leader instills fear which does not produce fine results. A discussion with an employee should always make him feel elevated. All employees should be valued whether it be an office boy or a business analyst. People who are made to feel special take pride in their work.

12. Appreciating Good Work:

Managers often feel their duty and right to yell at employees for something that went wrong. But appreciating people is most widely forgotten or overlooked. Everyone likes to be appreciated. Everyone naively expects rewards for good work. But a manager seems to be forgetting it consistently! It is very ironical but true. Employees love an admiring manager and like to work for them.

13. Be a Role Model:

Your people follow you. Be careful where you put your steps because they are destined to be followed by the employees. Don’t take any task for granted. Be enthusiastic and excited about the work and the enthusiasm will eventually become viral.

14. Being Hopeful in Bad Times:

Life keeps on oscillating between good and bad times. The company might face crisis and it is a manager’s duty to keep up the spirits. He/She should ensure the team that the hitch will end soon and everything will be alright. The manager needs to be fearless and serene but deliberate and ready for anything. Once a team is through the crisis, relationships and understanding reaches a new level.

15. Making a Good Team:

A good manager’s tasks include making a strong team of people. A good employee serves as a cell and a good team serves as a building block of an organization. Finding competent people is hard and calculating their potential during an interview is even harder. A manager needs to be good at evaluating the psyche of people so that he can choose the best.

All a manager requires is the basic understanding of human nature, the art of dealing with people beautifully and the ability of leading people rightly. Being the best has a lot of perks but it does not come without a price. The price is often hard work and smart work