Halvorson - People Management: Everything you need to know about managing and leading people at work

Introduction

The best-kept secret and hardest lesson that no one tells you when you become a manager of people is this: you dont become a great manager overnightyou have to work at it just like anything else you want to excel at. You cant expect to instantly know everything there is to know about managing people just because you were given a piece of paper, a title change, or a salary increaseand no one expects that of you right away.

Most experienced leaders understand that becoming a good manager of people takes practice, perseverance, and commitment. They know that its not about bossing people around all the time, nor is it about being everyones best friend. Its not about being stuck in the back office crunching numbers all day (at least it doesnt have to be), and its not about shucking all your responsibilities onto the people below you.

Managing people is about inspiring people to do their best work. Its about being a good listener, an effective communicator, an idea person, an organized planner, a doer, a finder of great talent, and a person who knows how to make tough decisions when tough decisions need to be made.

I wrote this book, not because Im perfect or because I have all the answers, but because Ive learned a lot in my experience and time as a manager. My hope is that you can use pieces of this bookthe lessons Ive learned along the wayto become a better manager and leader at your own business. I hope it inspires you to do more for your team, not because anyone tells you that you need to be better, but because its what your employees deserve.

To build a better team from the ground up, you have to start from the top. This book will help you get started.

Thank you for reading,

Chad Halvorson

CEO of When I Work

The Management Skills You Need To Lead Your Team

Leading a team is every kids dream. Who doesnt want to be the hero that slays the enemy, gets the gold, and ultimately leads their people to success? But, the reality of leadership isnt like the moviesits a lot more complicated.

Each team member has a different communication style, and brings a unique skill set to the table. The company has tons of different goals, and its hard to prioritize what needs to get done, and who needs to do it.

In order to be an effective leader, you need more than a good attitude and a little kids dream. You need good management skills. Heres my comprehensive list of skills that youll need to thrive as a manager:

Vision

Where is your company going? What about your team? How do you harmonize the team with the companys goals? Leaders often have the best intentions, but they get caught up in day-to-day management, putting out fires instead of working to unite their people under a shared vision.

Lack of direction leaves team members feeling confused about purpose. They know theyre working hard, but its difficult for them to see their impact. They dont know which initiatives to prioritize. As a leader, you not only need a clear vision, but you also need to communicate it well.

How to get it: If youre struggling to create and communicate your long term vision, step back and think about what that vision is. If youre in middle management, meet with the people above you to help you understand big picture goals. If youre on top, step back and write down a plan. Too many leaders fly by the seat of their pants without assessing goals on monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis.

Effective Communication

Communication is a dirty word. It gets thrown around by people who are unsure of what it really means. At its core, communication is about expressing yourself so that the things you think and the things you say are closely aligned. Communication is the keystone of effective leadership.

You need to communicate:

- Priorities

- Long term goals

- Gratitude

- Strategy and executional information

How to get it: If you feel like youre not a great communicator, try putting things in writing. Plan what youre going to say before a meeting dont just wing it.

Organization

When we think about being organized, we envision a clean workspace and color-coded post it notes, but organization extends to executional items such as project timelines. Organization is easy for some, impossible for others. Thankfully, there are tools available to help all of usGantt charts, excel spreadsheets, project management software (such as Trello and Teamwork) are just a few options.

How to get it: Struggling to keep things together? Papers flying everywhere? Email inbox overloaded? Sit down with someone who is organized and have them help you set up systems. Once you have systems in place, youll be better able to stay organized and keep your team on the same page.

Functional Skills

Its hard to respect management who cant get stuff done. Someone who cant do is problematic its like having a ship captain who never learned how to sail. If a leader doesnt have the skill set to understand the industry, and the ability to make things happen, theyre probably not a great leader. This doesnt mean that leaders need to be knee deep in the nitty-gritty instead, they need to effectively delegate and create timelines to ensure that goals are met on time and with quality results.

How to get it: Take a class on leadership and management, or other courses that focus on the functional skills you lack. Find a good, in-person class in your region that focuses on skills such as delegation, difficult conversation, and project timelines. I recommend General Assembly.

Confidence

Youre the boss, so you cant let yourself get used by your staff. Confidence is not just a trait its also a practiced skill. Confidence comes from knowing yourself well. If you understand your strengths, you can leverage them for success. You can be transparent with your team when it comes to your weaknesses, asking for help so you can move along.

How to get it: Take a personality test. I love Myers-Briggs and DISC assessments. These will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses in an objective way. I also recommend doing things outside your comfort zone. If youre a quiet person, take an improv class. If youre loud, meditate.

Fairness

Nothing frustrates employees more than blatant favoritism. Sure, there will be members of your team that you like more than others, but expressing your true feelings is poison to a team who has to come together. Favoritism is juvenile, and it can poison a team. Its a dagger into camaraderie so dont pick favorites!

How to get it: If you really favor some team members more than others, you need to create boundaries to put your professionalism in check. When you go out to lunch, invite everyone, not just the guy whose jokes you like. As a manager, you need to make professional friends and contacts, not BFFs.

Respect

Being a good leader doesnt mean getting everyone to unanimously nod their heads every time you open your mouth. Disagreements are inevitable, but a good leader can treat others with respect and kindness, no matter the situation. Ask your reports why they think what they think. Respect their opinions, even if you vehemently disagree. If they do something serious that needs to be addressed, talk to them like they are adults instead of cornering and lecturing them.

How to get it: This ones tough, because we cant help but be hot-headed sometimes. If you feel yourself getting angry in a meeting, take a deep breath, walk out the door, and take a break. Time will calm you down so that when you do discuss hot button issues, you can do so with respect.

Adaptability

Change is the only constant in our lives, and teams look to their leaders when the seas get stormy and the caves get dark. As a leader, you have to adapt. You cant be the one acting like an ostrich, head in the ground, unwilling to accept the changes. The best leader take changes in stride, thriving in transition.