Top Tips for Today’s Managers

/

Since 2013 I’ve been an occasional contributor to the PreScouter Journal. PreScouter’s mission is to expose the world to innovations that might otherwise be lost or go unnoticed. The PreScouter Journal is part idea sharer, part how to guide, and part news. Contributors across a wide variety of industries help to make it a must follow source of content.

Below are the four posts that I’ve had published to date, with a brief summary of each. I hope that you find something that interests you and hop over to PreScouter’s site to read the article in full.

Redefining Leadership and the Role of Managers

What it means to lead an organization today is different than what it meant years ago. And as such, we expect our managers to approach their jobs and responsibilities differently. This post includes my own theories of what is expected of today’s managers and what it means to be a leader.

Motivating Today’s Employees: How to Get the Most Out of Your Team

Building off the first post, this one makes the argument that today’s employees are different. What it takes to manage them, coach them, train them, and keep them has changed. And so it is important for managers at all levels to understand what they can do to help their teams.

Ask Not What Your Employees Can Do for You

The role of the manager is not that of a drill sergeant. But that’s how many still approach it. Instead, this post argues that the role of the manager is to make your employees’ lives easier. What can managers do to help make their employees better at their jobs?

Seek Out Cooperation

We do not live in a perfectly competitive world. When our company succeeds, it does not come at the expense of all others. So to compete in the real world, sometimes you have to seek out help from other companies or institutions. This post is about how to instill that sense of cooperation in your organization.

Did You Know Words Really Can Hurt You?

/

This is not a post about one of the recent Geico commercials, though I will thank them for inspiring it. No, instead this is a post about three situations marketers and business owners will find themselves in where the words you use matter. Using the wrong ones might lead to a drop in business.

  1. Copywriting – the words you use to describe your company, your products, and your value to consumers have a direct impact on your sales. The best marketers and copywriters in the world carefully craft each and every message their customers will see. And using the wrong words could cause people to lose interest or turn to your competition.
     
  2. Speaking to the press – company spokespeople are well-paid for a reason. They convey your brand’s message to the media. And how you do that is very important. Because the slightest mix up could lead to a lot of negative coverage that can sink any brand.
     
  3. Managing employees – talking to your team, especially those that work under you is a skill you must master. The right wording can go a long way toward inspiring people to work harder. The wrong wording might make them turn on you.

Best of Management on ZachHellerMarketing.com

/

Management tips have become a regular part of this blog, and every once in a while we like to take our newer readers back to some of the most popular content that they may have missed. Below, I have assembled links to and summaries of our nine most popular posts on management. Enjoy!

Save Time By Hiring the Right Marketing Talent

Hiring is a skill we should all master. A good hiring decision can make all the difference. A bad hiring decision can cost you unnecessary time and money. Here are some tips on how to hire better talent.

Marketers as Facilitators of Communication

The role of a good marketing manager is not just to manage the marketing staff, but to cross over department lines and make sure that the company as a whole is on the same page as far as what they’re selling, to who, and how.

Run More Frequent, Shorter Meetings

Meetings can be a drag on productivity. But executed correctly, they should help move projects forward, encourage team building, and offer an opportunity to make better key decisions.

How to Get More Out of Your Employees: Part 1

Management is all about getting the best performance you can out of those that you manage. There are many ways to encourage, inspire, and lead. This post offers an introduction into how you can get more out of your employees.

How to Get More Out of Your Employees: Part 2

Continuing the theme of part 1, this follow up post shows managers what they can do to inspire their workers to be even more productive and successful.

How to Manage by Doing

One problem of managing employees is that often managers don’t fully understand what it’s like to do the jobs they manage. Try spending a day in the shoes of every employee you manage to gain a better understanding of what they all do.

The Case for Paying Your Employees More

Rising wages are not necessarily bad for business. In fact, many times paying your employees more will make you more successful. This post explains why.

The Case for Paying Your Employees Less

We made the argument for paying more, but we cannot ignore the other side. There are times when paying less makes sense. Here’s the reasoning behind it.

A Guide to Firing Your Marketing Agency

Not all relationships last forever, and the one you have with the agency who handles your marketing is no exception. When it comes time to make a change, here is a helpful checklist to consider.

How to Get More Out of Your Employees: Part 2

/
helpful tips.jpg

Welcome to Day 2 of a two day blogging event I’m calling “How to Get More Out of Your Employees”. Check out Day 1 here.

If you’re a manager, on any level, you know how important it is to get the most of your employees. The job of a good manager is to cultivate an environment where your employees can flourish. Because when your employees flourish, so will your company.

Today’s tip is: listen to them

The roles and responsibilities of leaders are changing. In the past, the common belief was that the best and brightest people within an organization were at the very top, and that all the good ideas came from the executives at a company. After all, that’s how they got there in the first place.

But times changed. And in today’s world, its vital for success as a manager to understand that good ideas come from all over the place. Instead of coming up with all the ideas, good managers create an environment where good ideas are created, refined, and given the attention they deserve.

Here are some ways you can open up communication in your organization:

  1. Create a physical or digital suggestion box
  2. Incentivize good ideas with public recognition and even cash rewards
  3. Have executives meet with front line employees on a regular basis
  4. Hold regular town hall style meetings with an open agenda

Much has been written about millennials and the challenges they present to employers. But the truth is, the younger generation wants to have more say, and more control over their jobs. And as an employer, it’s important you recognize that someone who wants to take ownership over their position is more passionate, and likely to improve your company.

You should cultivate this mindset, and be on the lookout for real innovative ideas wherever they come from.

Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments below.

 

How to Get More Out of Your Employees: Part 1

/
helpful tips.jpg

Welcome to Day 1 of a two day blogging event I’m calling “How to Get More Out of Your Employees”.

If you’re a manager, on any level, you know how important it is to get the most of your employees. The job of a good manager is to cultivate an environment where your employees can flourish. Because when your employees flourish, so will your company.

Today’s tip is: teach them

Many of the best companies to work for offer tuition reimbursement plans for employees who return to school or complete a degree while employed at the company. This encourages employees to continue their education and build on their skills. And a more educated employee, is often a better employee.

But not every company can afford to institute such a program. So here are some ways you can train your employees, creating a better company in the process:

  1. Invite guest speakers to come in and give talks and presentations in areas of interest for your employees
  2. Sign up with corporate training companies that offer online courses for continuing education in a variety of fields and offer them to your employees at no cost
  3. Create a mentorship program and partner new employees or more junior employees with managers or other senior level employees
  4. Offer conditional bonuses or promotions for people who continue their education in an area that will enhance their ability to do their job
  5. Offer on the job training programs for people looking to advance within the company

It’s important for any manager to recognize that a good employee is one that is passionate about their work. And that means this person will also be ambitious and looking to advance their career. Give them ways to do this within your company will keep people motivated and happy.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of “How to Get More Out of Your Employees” tomorrow.

In the meantime, I’d love your feedback. Use the comments below to add to the above list and offer your own suggestions!