3 Fundamental Management Activities to Lead Like a Pro

Fundamental Management Activities
Three fundamental management activities matter for all managers, but they especially matter to new managers who are just beginning to establish their reputation and prove their skill at leading others. We know from thousands of manager training participants that the best managers are good at communicating, organizing, and guiding.

Three Fundamental Management Activities to Lead Like a Pro
But how do these three capabilities translate into the day-to-day interactions between a new manager and their team.  Let’s look at each aspect of a new manager’s role and what it takes:

1.  Communicating
The first of the fundamental management activities is to be able to use their communication and relationship skills to get work done through others.

• Goals and Expectations
  For first-time supervisors, effective communication is the most basic and yet most critical skill of all. Managers need to be able to communicate the team goals in a way that inspires the team to achieve it.
• Relationships
  First-level leaders also need to build relationships that are founded on trust and mutual respect — this requires good listening as well as empathetic responses.
• Adaptability
  Managers need to be able to adapt to the different working styles on their team. Being overly direct with an introverted but capable employee will drive that employee away just as a hands-off approach with an employee who craves and needs direction will end in frustration for both.

2.  Organizing
The second of the fundamental management activities is to know how to prioritize activities so that the most important work gets done first.

• Delegation
  Effective managers delegate well, are able to facilitate well-designed meetings and allocate team resources in a way that reduces waste and increases efficiency.
• Processes and Procedures
  High performing managers also set up procedures that keep everyone on track — not only with the project at hand but also in terms of performance expectations so they can hold employees accountable for key objectives.

3.  Guiding
The final of the fundamental management activities is to care about their employees and earn their respect and loyalty.

• Play to Strengths
  Effective managers know what engages and drives each and every individual team member so they can play to strengths and cater to interests.
• Coach for Performance
  High performing managers excel as coaches by encouraging greater effort, helping employees overcome obstacles and providing opportunities for growth.

The Bottom Line
First-level managers and supervisors are on the front lines interpreting and implementing the plans designed by those in the C-Suite. Without the fundamental management activities of communicating, organizing and guiding, many top-level strategies would go unfulfilled.

To learn more about being a better leader, download The 6 Traps that Can Sabotage Your Success as a New Leader