A straightforward guide to effective team management

Recently appointed as an Assistant Manager at accountancy firm Page Kirk, JESS SMITH, has been learning quickly some of the best ways of achieving success and motivating a team. Here, she shares ten of her top tips.

1. SHOW THAT YOU’RE HUMAN

It’s important to be a real person, as it creates a more comfortable environment. People feel less intimidated when you show your human side.

2. DELEGATE EFFECTIVELY

You can’t do everything yourself, but when you delegate, it’s essential to take into account people’s background, skills and knowledge. No one wants to feel out of the depth, but equally, you can’t pigeonhole team members either. They need to have the chance to learn something new.

3. GIVE FEEDBACK

While you’ll probably hold formal appraisals at regular intervals, informal feedback is vital too – both positive and negative. Even if people have performed tasks correctly, it’s always important to offer constructive suggestions on the way in which they could have been done better. Equally, it’s essential to acknowledge success.

4. COMMUNICATE

People aren’t mind readers. If you don’t keep them informed, how can you expect them to do what they need to do? In small businesses, you can often impart information face to face, but in larger companies, you’ll need a chain for communication and perhaps regular team update meetings.

5. SET AN EXAMPLE

You’re a role model for your team, so if you arrive late to work or lose your temper in the office, don’t be surprised if other people think this behaviour is acceptable. You have to set the standards. People won’t take notice if you say one thing and do another.

6. BE CONSISTENT

Everyone is a human being and has feelings. Don’t treat people differently based on, say, their level of seniority or how much you personally like them.

7. GET TO KNOW YOUR TEAM

It’s important to know people at a personal level and build a rapport. Take an interest in the team around you. Ask how their weekend was and how they’re feeling. They’ll appreciate the personal touch.

8. ENCOURAGE QUESTIONS

People need to know that you have time for them. Remember, if they don’t feel confident to ask, they’ll probably just guess and may make mistakes.

9. BE ASSERTIVE

If you can’t make decisions, it’s hard for people in your team to respect your leadership. You need to demonstrate that you can be confident and decisive where appropriate.

10. KEEP YOUR KNOWLEDGE UP TO DATE

You need to be technically up to speed in your own specialism, as this provides you with credibility. It also allows you to support team members with any issues that arise as part of their work.