Defining People Management in 2021

People management is a crucial skill if you are a manager or work at a higher level within a company. Some individuals have a natural ability to manage others effectively. Others must practice improving this ability and actively maintain it over time. The courses you take with Bryant & Stratton College prepare you to work in a number of fields with a focus on leadership, communication, conflict resolution, and much more that will make you a good manager.

What is people management?

People management can be defined as the process by which a company leader motivates, trains, and directs employees to optimize productivity and promote professional growth. Some roles in charge of people management include managers, department heads, and team leads. They use this as a means of workflow oversight and a way to boost employee performance.

What are the components of people management?

Building Effective Teams

It’s not an easy process to put together an effective team. However, in many instances it’s necessary to have people work on teams for various projects. Collaboration with others is necessary for a team to function, and it comes more easily to some. You might get a team started with a casual meet-up in which they do icebreaker activities to allow them to form bonds early on.

Understanding the People in the Organization

It’s crucial that you listen carefully when an employee comes to you with an issue. Regardless of what it is, a good leader shows their employees that they care about the matter at hand by reducing distractions and putting focus on the individual. Nodding your head and other nonverbal cues indicate your engagement and dedication to them. In addition to this, it’s good to learn about your employees and treat them as more than just another face in the crowd in your company. This not only improves employee retention, but will provide insights into how you can improve the situation at hand.

Empowering Employees

Encourage your employees to conduct regular professional development training to improve their knowledge and hone their skills. Recognize and praise your employees’ strengths frequently so they know they can succeed. However, this may also include offering them negative feedback in the form of constructive criticism. There is a way to deliver even a seemingly harsh message so that the person doesn’t feel belittled and instead uses it to improve.

Establishing Effective Communication

Communication is one of the key components to running a business. Make sure that your employees know that your office is an open and welcoming space for them to go with their concerns, questions, and any ideas they may have about procedures and processes. It also goes the other way – pay attention to the way that you communicate to ensure that you’re getting your message across and not talking over others.

Effective People Management Skills for 2021

Clear Communication

With a higher level of responsibility comes a greater need to communicate. People working for you will rely on you to express instructions, rules, and guidelines in a manner that’s straightforward and easy to understand. As soon as a problem arises that involves your employees, you must do your best to explain what the issue is and what kind of help you need to resolve it. They’ll appreciate the effort you put into explaining things succinctly and rationally.

Trust

Trust is an important part of any relationship, including that of manager-employee. You need to trust one another to do what’s right for the company and respect each other’s work ethic and autonomy. Trust can also come in the form of giving greater responsibility to employees when you notice they have advanced skills and abilities. Trusting in your employee’s commitment to the work and them trusting you to keep their best interests in mind is a cornerstone of people management.

Conflict-Resolution

Those who work in leadership positions serve an important role when it comes to resolving conflicts. When a conflict arises in the workplace, you’ll need to approach it calmly and rationally. Being an effective practitioner of people management makes it possible to mediate conflicts between employees and return to an environment of respect and collaboration.

Flexibility

It’s best to avoid a rigid mindset when you’re in charge of managing others. Try to maintain flexible expectations as you navigate the workplace. Discuss team goals with everyone involved and allow others to make suggestions that have worked well for them in other areas. You can all learn from each other no matter how much experience a person has.

Patience

The value of patience in a company environment cannot be understated. Some plans may take a while to accomplish, and it doesn’t do you any good to get frustrated when it’s not going according to your expected timeline. Your employees will follow your lead, creating an anxious environment that hinders motivation and productivity. Take a deep breath, then work with the elements you have control over.

Active Listening

Active listening means that you don’t just hear someone, you make it a point to concentrate only on what they’re saying and understand their message. This is a big part of being a manager or other type of leader. It ensures you don’t miss out on anything that could lead to problems down the road.

Empathy

Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. You understand how they feel, even if you’re not going through the same thing. This is necessary when you’re building a company culture, as it lets your employees know that they’re important to you and can go to you for guidance. This is sure to boost morale and your employees’ mental health.

Organization

Keep things as streamlined as possible in your company. If you have team members working on a project, try to avoid giving too many extra tasks beyond the project’s scope. Define goals and objectives and explain any rules or procedures right away, both during the onboarding process and when there are new ones being put in place. It’s ideal to have strictly defined roles for each person as to what they’re responsible for and if there’s any hierarchy structure.

Learning the Building Blocks of Being a Great Manager

People management can take years to master. Even if you’ve been in a leadership role in your company for a long time, there is always more to learn and room for improvement. If you’d like to improve your people management skills, Bryant & Stratton College offers a bachelor’s degree in human resource management. Reach out and talk to an advisor today for more information and see how you can get started.