by Lou Belcher

Created on: December 09, 2009

When just starting out in management or trying to change your management style, it is important to determine how you want to approach your job and those you manage, so you can do the best job possible and create a productive team that works well together.

It's important for all managers and prospective managers to choose the style of management that will work best for them and will create the best results.  

In order to become a productive and successful manager, you must understand how you can approach management duties. For example, do you want to manage your employees by your authority? In this case you would employ a style where you make your employees understand all the rules and you enforce them. Or, for example, do you want to manage with participation from your employees? This would require a different style. These are two styles. There are many in between and it's a good idea to choose a style that best fits your needs and will achieve success for you and your employees.

Here are some tips for managers and prospective managers These tips will come in handy to all managers regardless of what management style they choose.

1.  One of the most important aspects after choosing your management style is to continually remind yourself of your approach. If you apply your management style consistently, your staff will learn what you expect and rise to those expectations.

2. Stay connected with your employees. Keep your ear in the mix of things so you do not lose touch. Of course, you must get your part of the workload done and in order to do that, you must spend a certain amount of time in your office. However, to be an effective manager, you must also spend an appropriate amount of time listening to your employees and guiding them. So listen carefully to what parts of the job work for each employee and what parts don't. Ensure that your employees know that you are approachable.

3. Frequently evaluate how your approach is working.  As a manager, it is your responsibility to stay in touch with how your employees are doing and how the project is progressing. Never be too proud to improve upon a method you have implemented that is no longer working.

4. Be sure to spell out clearly what is expected of your employees. Be sure to encourage them to work together cooperatively. And, allow a certain amount of chaos as that usually means that workers are reaching optimal creative levels.

Management is not as difficult as it sounds if you remember to show your employees that you value them and keep lines of communication open to make changes when necessary.

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