Middle managers play a critical role in any business, and in order to succeed in a role where you oversee others but still don’t call all the shots takes a lot of skill, practice and patience. While many companies promote people to managerial roles from within or bring in people with little or no experience overseeing others, few of them take the time to train these inexperienced managers on how to lead their teams, which sets them up to fail.
As a business coach, I work to help companies thrive and meet their goals, and in many cases there is a need for manager training, either in an individual or group setting. While business owners are often well versed in their trade, it makes sense to bring in a coach to help their people learn nuanced business techniques which can help them be better leaders.
In the sections to follow, I will discuss a few different skills which are essential for good managers, and which I teach during my management training sessions. Hopefully, this will give you a better idea of the service I can provide for your business and how it can help your people and your company thrive.
Time Management
Managers are often inundated with requests for their attention, items which need to be checked, employee issues and much more. In order to perform well professionally, a manager must be able to effectively use the time they are working each day, and time management is a key skill in any leadership position. When I work with managers on time management, I help them take a step back when evaluating a task and evaluate whether it helps them reach their objectives. It’s okay to say no to a task, delegate it or save it for another day, especially if there is something more pressing, and developing the skill of time management can help a manager do their best work.
Delegation
Managers should always be willing to help out on the front lines when needed and show newer employees the ropes on occasion, but a manager who spends all their time performing everyday tasks isn’t a manager at all. People who oversee others should seek to spend their time training, planning and working on the business rather than performing front line work, and delegation allows them to do so. In our training, we cover how to effectively delegate, understand if a person is equipped to handle the delegated task and how to ensure delegated work is completed.
Communication
Managers are in the unique position of being the go-between for the goals and objectives of the company’s leadership and the workers who get the job done on the ground, so being an effective communicator is key. When I train managers, we discuss listening as an important tactic when communicating. You must be an active listener when conveying important information. If you are, the person you’re talking with will tell you what they need and you can get your point across more effectively.
To learn more about manager’s leadership training or business coaching in general, give me a call or fill out the form on my website today.
