How to Be a Good Manager: Create the Right Space
Wondering how to be a good manager? Great question.
Do you want to know how to be a good manager? For us, it’s simple. You must be less invading and more inviting. When things get stressful (and let’s face it, these days when aren’t they stressful) it is easy for you to become an additional burden to your team. But that’s when leaders get headed down the wrong path. People don’t grow, excel, or shine when they have no room to breathe.
Your heart is in the right place. After all, making sure the trains are running on time is your job. If things get off track it’s your job on the line. But applying that stress to the team – even when it is motivated for the right reasons – is the wrong way.
As a manager, it’s important for you to know just how productive your team is. Where they’re at on a project. If they’ve run into a road block. Maybe someone isn’t carrying their load. These are things you need to know. However, if you go searching that out. Especially if you just pop in unannounced and start down the list: “Where are you at on that project? Is it going to be on time? You know how important this project is, right? If it’s off track I need to know now.”
How to Create the Right Space
When we teach leaders how to be a good manager we explain the key to keeping morale high without suffocating your team through micro-management is to create a comfortable space where they come to you when things are off track. Think about the space around you. The energy you put off. The ease with which someone feels they can approach you. When they do approach you, do you invite the interruption or are you put off by it?
Want to know how to be a good manager? Start by managing yourself. Create the right space around you and your team will show up at your door.
What kind of space surrounds you? How do you think it effects your employees attempts to approach you? For a few quick, easy-to-implement tips on creating a more inviting space, check out the video above where I dive into the Right Space Tool. Next, click on the image to the left to download a PDF copy.
