Northwest Staffing Blog

Recently promoted to a management position? Wondering how to make the transition as smoothly as possible? Here are some tips that can help you to effectively manage, gain the respect – and be a great boss.

#1: Know – and accept – that you’re not their friend anymore.

If you’ve recently been promoted to management, you’ll most likely be in the awkward position of supervising your friends. But it’s important to realize that you’re now their boss, not their friend, and you must treat the whole team equally.

#2: Create a healthy workplace environment.

Good bosses achieve three goals in the workplace:

1)    They create a sense of fairness so that individuals feel like they are being appropriately recognized and rewarded for their contributions.
2)    They create an atmosphere of achievement, so that everyone is proud of the place they work.
3)    They create a sense of camaraderie among employees and make everyone feel like they’re part of a team.

#3: Consult with your employees.

One important way to gain respect is to ask your employees for input on what’s working well – and what isn’t. Giving employees the opportunity to offer input makes them feel more in control and helps to reduce any apprehension about the change.

#4: Don’t micromanage.

Once you’ve trained your employees, let them do their job. No one likes to be micro-managed (including you!). So let your staff handle their work without interfering.

#5: Understand that it’s not about you anymore.

When you’re an employee, you can focus on your own individual efforts. When you’re a manager, you have to focus on the entire team’s efforts. So, as a boss, it’s time to relinquish the spotlight and put your employees there instead.

#6: Show appreciation to your employees.

Never hesitate to pat your employees on the back or compliment them for a job well done.

#7: Share your goals with your employees.

Make sure your employees are clear about the goals you are trying to achieve. And be specific, for instance “I’d like to increase our sales by 10% next year.”

#8: Hire top performers.

People are your most important asset. And hiring top performers is critical to your success as a boss.

If you need help hiring qualified people for industrial, office, and technical positions, please contact Northwest Staffing. As one of Seattle’s leading staffing agencies, we know where to look to find great candidates for a variety of different positions. Contact us today. We can help.