Skill Development for Today’s Managers
No surprise—how we work has changed dramatically in the past few years. We survived a worldwide pandemic. We experienced “The Great Resignation”, then “Quiet Quitting”. Now, we are learning about AI and its impact on work and everything else. What’s next? Your guess is as good as mine.
With so many changes impacting the world of work, today’s managers could use a little help—or maybe a lot of help.
It doesn’t appear that many organizations have realized that their managers are facing new challenges and it is not business as usual. Yet the attitude still prevails that when you get to be a manager, you know how to handle whatever comes at you. Let’s be clear—nothing could be farther from the truth.
The current challenges facing many managers are new ones. Managers are being forced to do their work in different ways. We’re learning how to do things virtually including interviewing, managing conflict, coaching, team building, and so much more.
Many knowledge-based organizations have adapted first to a work from home culture and then to perhaps a hybrid culture. Others have required staff members to return to the office. Businesses that can only operate with employees working on site such as retailers, manufacturers, healthcare providers, and many others, need to change how they schedule work in order to meet their employee’s needs. While they can’t provide work from home options, they can perhaps, schedule work farther in advance.
So, we’re starting a new series dedicated to helping managers and supervisors gain some new skills or enhance their current abilities. We also will continue to share resources that will help managers and supervisors navigate the changing world of work.
Let’s start with what skills are needed to be a successful manager.
Managers need to:
Bring the best available talent into their organization
Build relationships and partnerships based on trust
Set realistic goals and expectations
Be accountable and hold others accountable
Develop their people through coaching, mentoring, skill building
Keep the focus on the vision and values
Be inspirational while motivating staff and managing performance
Provide constant feedback
Be critical thinkers—gather required data and information to make good decisions
Be good communicators—listen, share information with others in a clear and concise manner
Treat employees like human beings—not just as staff members
Provide fair and competitive pay and benefits where people feel valued
Provide a respectful work environment where everyone can thrive
Don’t overlook our latest book—The Decisive Manager. It’s filled with suggestions for how to manage people and includes information on how to manage in our new work environment. Join us in future newsletters for more information on these topics or check out our website at www.bigbookofhr.com for our blogs.