Having The Right Management Style

Managers who are in the most dangerous situation tend to be those who aren't very good at managing people, but who haven't realised that this is the case. Such people tend to demand little respect in the workplace and may not be achieving at the level that they would really desire. But the worst element of this situation is that their failure to appreciate the problem means that they can't act upon it.

So this seems like a good chance for you to consider your own management style. How would you rate yourself? Have you ever asked your staff whether they think that you're doing a good job? This can be something that's hard to approach. Many people in management positions would love to get objective feedback from staff members, but the latter may be fearful of offering truly honest opinions.

If you genuinely want to know what others think about you, then you'll need to ensure that your staff can offer opinions without worrying about whether such a course of action will damage their future career opportunities. That's why some businesses seek independent consultants who ask for confidential opinions from staff. They then put together a summary of the opinions that have been offered.

This can be a rewarding approach for any manager, assuring that you'll get some great feedback. You can then use this to make improvements. But do you have anything to worry about? There are some clear signs that may suggest that your management style could be improved.

Some pointers that experienced managers might become concerned about would include low productivity from staff members, consistent poor performance, expressions of unhappiness and high levels of staff absence. Each of these may indicate that all is not well. If you're faced with all of these issues, then you can be certain that there's a real problem.

Of course, it may be that your management style is not completely to blame. You may work in an environment where staff morale is low due to decisions made by more senior managers. But you do have the ability to ensure that your staff members produce results for you. That should be at the heart of your workplace strategy.

Think carefully about your own management style and consider whether there is room for improvements to be made. Most of us, if we're honest, realise that we're not perfect. Once you accept that there is a problem, you put yourself in a great position to deal with it.

Remember that confronting an issue is the important first step in the process.