What is effective people management?

Good people managers are leaders. They listen, they are attentive to others, and they adapt their leadership style to the people who report to them. Their role is to make sure that their teams have the tools, support and resources to deliver their best work. Below are some of the key characteristics of effective leaders.

Good leaders communicate their vision

A vision is something to look forward to and to aim for. Leaders who communicate their vision for the business give their teams a clear idea on what needs to be achieved and why. The manager should articulate the vision clearly and should be personally dedicated to the vision.

Effective managers know to lead by example

“Practice what you preach” is a principle that managers should apply at all times. Doing so demonstrates that rules apply to all and reduces top-down hierarchy pressure. People managers should align the standard they set for their teams with their own. This behaviour will demonstrate accountability, credibility and humility.

Good leaders are good communicators

Good leaders are excellent communicators and their communication skills emanate from their listening skills. When conveying the message, they should be clear, mindful and to the point. Knowing what information to share and when is essential. In addition, being a people manager also means knowing how to deal with misunderstandings or conflicts in the workplace.

Leaders empower the workforce and are generous with recognition

Successful people managers are inspiring leaders. They recognise the effort of their teams or individuals when it is due. Being generous with recognition has a positive effect on team morale. Employees know their hard work is valued and maintain strong motivation. In addition, good people managers are not shy with delegating and giving ownership to their team members. They trust them and the work they deliver and encourage their teams to be creative and “do it their way”.

Effective managers know how to motivate their teams and inspire them

Being able to make tough decisions is essential for leadership roles. These decisions often need to be made fast and can be difficult emotionally for all parties involved. Having the strength and the humility to be able to handle these situations is a must.

The best managers out there know to boost team motivation, inspire them and generate enthusiasm while maintaining productivity.

Check the content below for more on employee motivation:

• How to develop employee engagement and motivation in the workplace
• Employee Benefit Programmes: a guide to employee motivation

The importance of people leadership skills for your business

There is much more to leadership roles than just getting the best out of people. When it comes to managing people, there are some must have skills that will boost your business’ efficiency.

High satisfaction from optimised systems

Leaders with strong organisational skills have a direct effect on satisfaction within the workforce. Having the right systems and processes in place provides a structure to the organisation and increases accountability. Similarly, delegating appropriately builds satisfaction through ownership. Good people managers know when, to whom and how to delegate tasks. By doing so, they put their trust in their teams and are able to optimise the working day for all.

Ethics, an essential driver for employee morale

The way employees are treated by the business and its leaders has an effect on their morale and their level of engagement. Employees who know they can count on their leader are more likely to be invested and productive. Happy employees perform better.

For more on employee engagement, check out 11 employee engagement ideas.

Good communication

Having the right leaders will improve communication within the team. With a good flow of communication, the team will work well together and misunderstandings will be avoided. Talking transparently between colleagues is essential to understand different points of view.

Reduced leadership turnover

Leaders are often under pressure. Business leaders who have the right skills, know to delegate, communicate well and inspire their teams are more effective at their job and thus able to avoid difficulties and handle challenges when they arise.

What to look for when it comes to people management skills

When looking for a people manager, try to spot the following skills:

Transparent and open communication

Having open discussions is essential for people managers. Often, it avoids misunderstanding and ensures everyone works in harmony. Successful leaders are able to keep the line of communication open at all times. They are transparent on the organisation’s goals and what it will take to get there. In today’s work environment, communication can take many forms such as emails, video updates, town halls, Q&A sessions, etc. Regardless of the channel used, the message should be clear and easy to understand for all.

Humility and empathy

Having a management role means working closely with others to understand everyone’s situation and have empathy. Not all individuals will react in the same way to a situation. Understanding each and everyone’s point of view and addressing them with humility will bring the leader closer to their team.

Positive mindset

Work weeks can be long, stressful and overwhelming. Having a positive attitude towards challenging situations will lift employee morale and encourage perseverance.

Organisational skills

People management means managing the workload of different team members, balancing between internal and external meetings and much more. Having strong organisational and time management skills is a must. To manage their time effectively, leaders should learn to delegate and prioritise. They should set themselves and their teams specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound goals – SMART goals.

Strategic thinking

Strategic thinking is being able to make informed decisions fast. The decisions should not be biased and should therefore be well researched. Strategic thinking has a lot to do with managing priorities. It is about finding opportunities that will create value and focussing on them.

Ownership and accountability

Leaders should have a good sense of responsibility. A good people manager has the ability to challenge their team and at the same time protect them. They take accountability for the group without pointing fingers.

People development

A people manager must dedicate time to develop their team members. They mentor individuals and guide them through their career progression.

Knowing to delegate

When it comes to how to become a people manager, being hands off and having the ability to delegate is at the top of the list. This skill is harder for some than others but is nonetheless crucial to be a successful people manager. Without it, the leader will be overwhelmed by the amount of tasks and the weight of the responsibilities.

Positive and constructive feedback

Providing feedback goes hand in hand with developing people. It ensures that employees within the organisation are fully aware of the expectations and how to fulfil them. It allows them to grow and if desired to elevate themselves within the organisation.

When it comes to feedback, check our content on Communication at your workplace: positive and constructive feedback for employees.

6 essential tips for aspiring people managers

Reading the above section, you may wonder how to become a people manager. Leadership can be learnt and those who want to become a people manager can work at developing their skills to be more effective in the role. The following are some key elements to focus on.

1. Be honest and keep to your values

Leaders are individuals that people look up to. To be inspiring, their honesty should shine through. This will cascade down to their teams and in the medium to long term will make for a better work environment.

2. Cultivate your creativity

Creativity and innovation often lead to process efficiencies. By applying a creative and positive approach, challenges become opportunities and lead to business changes that strengthen the organisation.

3. Trust your abilities and stay humble

People managers cannot be experts in all areas. They have to trust their teams of subject matter experts and be confident in their abilities. In addition, they have to gain confidence themselves, in the way they present themselves and their results. This is a gradual process that requires humility throughout.

4. Keep learning

Those that do not keep learning will see their skills become obsolete. Today’s work environment evolves at fast pace, so it is essential to continuously learn about new technologies, tools, methods and much more.

5. Continuously work on your interpersonal skills

Soft skills such as listening skills and other interpersonal skills should be worked on continuously. They inspire confidence and trust and will make for better leaders.

6. Develop your network

This might seem obvious but successful people managers cultivate their network. They are connected, which gives them the ability to address challenges faster by reaching out to the right people. Building internal and external relationship is a large part of the job.

People management skills should be made a focus within your organisation. This ensures that the values of the business are reflected in its leaders. It makes for happier employees that feel supported and can develop. Investing in people managers will result in business efficiencies and better results in the long term.