7 Great Ways to be an Effective Manager

Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out. ~Stephen Covey 

You can be an effective manager in seven great ways:

1.      Be a leader:  A manager is a technically competent person. He may not need to work, but he must be able to provide solutions to problems when he is referred to. He coaches and inspires confidence among workers. He develops people. They are given resources and are encouraged to work independently. They are enthusiastic and motivated because of the trust placed on them. A leader anticipates events and takes proactive action to prevent emergency situations.  A leader has many followers because he is knowledgeable and competent.

2.      Be a master communicator: An effective manager is patient and listens attentively. He listens first to seek understanding before speaking. He is able to know the hidden messages by observing the other person’s body language. An effective manager is also able to write concisely, precisely, clearly, and fully.    

3.      Personal effectiveness: An effective manager plans, organizes, prioritizes, and maintains a balanced life. He is keeping in good shape so that he is energetic, alert, attentive, and responsive. He keeps promises and meets deadlines without fail.

4.      Creative to sustain long-term survival: To be effective, a manager has to follow closely the market trend and understand the changing needs of customers. He is innovative and constantly developing new products to cater to the varied taste of smart shoppers.

5.      An open mind: He is continuously updating his knowledge and learning new things to stay ahead.  As an adaptable and flexible person, he initiates changes to seek progress.  

6.      Take action: There is a sense of urgency. When it is time to act, prompt action is taken. An effective manager does not hesitate. 

If I had to say in one word what makes a good manager, I’d say decisiveness. You can use the fanciest computers to gather the numbers, but in the end, you have to set a timetable and act. ~Lee Iacocca

7.      Productive: An effective manager focuses on the few important things to do that produce the desired results. To be productive is to do the right thing at the right time. The right time is always now.

An effective manager is creative and he inspires, motivates and supports the team to achieve greatness.