We all want to be part of an organisation that sees excellence as the best way forward. It will allow us to achieve success, and maintain it in a sustainable fashion.
Managers in the workplace have a role to play with diverse and continuously evolving responsibilities. They seek to instill a high-performance mindset while promoting teamwork and competitiveness for the betterment of a healthier whole. Managers must also touch the business and stay active. They need to be close to the front line.
Most importantly, managers must earn trust from their colleagues to inspire team unity and collaboration. As a team member, the level of trust you have with your manager makes or breaks the team, your performance, and development within the organisation you are part of. If a manager is ineffective at earning trust, the lack of team performance will speak for itself. Ineffective managers can earn their people’s trust with some proven approaches.
- Build Rapport. Not an easy task, but it requires being a great listener. Managers who are listening take good notes, are quick to follow actions through, and are responsible enough to proactively address your immediate needs and requirements to help you be more successful.
- Take a Diplomatic Approach. A manager must always be mindful of doing the right thing, exercise good judgment and know how to pick and choose his battles. It is about supporting the team and using consensus-building methods to facilitate harmony.
- Establish Credibility The most effective managers always follow-up, are true to their word, have a proven track record, and a reputation of getting things done. The best managers earn respect through performance. Not only do they drive business results, but they serve as coaches, mentors and sponsors, who help teach others how to do the same.
- Engage in Conflict Resolution Solving problems with clarity is extremely effective in giving direction to team members. Effective managers invite and empower others to make suggestions and recommendations. They will view conflict as a chance to build new relationships, and as a powerful learning opportunity to train their teams to manage conflict for themselves.
- Be a Strong Communicator This is the most important and effective way for managers to earn trust quickly: be a strong communicator. Knowledge of the most appropriate and effective channels will make it easier to communicate needs for their team with the key players in the organisation. Communication helps break down departmental silos and creates inter-dependency between people, and builds strong workplace alliances.
IiE has helped both established and new managers build the effectiveness of their teams. The range of Tools and Approaches are available to ensure that What Matters Most is clear across the whole organisation.