A manager’s job can be quite difficult. Not only are you responsible for the performance of an entire time, but you also have to keep working towards your own career goals. It’s not that surprising, then, that so many managers find themselves stressed out. Unfortunately, that stress can negatively impact one’s subordinates and lead to an even more difficult workplace environment. If you are looking to reduce your own stress, the best method may be to empower your employees. Below are four ways to reduce your management stress and to help your employees take charge of their own futures.
Use Your (Human) Resources
If you’re running into too much stress as a manager, it might be because you are trying to do too much at once. Depending on the amount of leeway you have to assign tasks, it might be a good idea to start delegating some responsibilities. It’s important that you don’t make your subordinates do your job, but do make sure you pass along tasks that they are suitable to handle. With a little less on your plate, you can become a much better (and less stressed) manager. Don’t over-delegate, but make sure you always take advantage of the strengths of each individual team member.
Open Door Policy
If you want your employees to be empowered, it’s time to start listening to them. While having an Open Door policy as a manager might seem like a lot of work, it’s actually quite worthwhile. It is not only a great way to get input from your employees, but it is also a good way to make sure that rumors don’t fester in the office. If you can allow your employees to speak their mind to you and bring up problems when they occur, you can put out any fires before they become dangerous for your team.
Use the Right Software
If you can’t delegate a task to an employee, it might be a good idea to get some electronic help. The right enterprise project management software, for example, can make life easier for everyone in the office. Automated systems not only help to administrate fairly, but they take a great deal of work off your plate. Once you can automate certain tasks, you can get down to the actual process of managing. If you have the power, make sure you pick software that can solve your team’s problems. If not, talk to someone in HR or IT to figure out if there are solutions that can help you in the future.
Pick Your Battles
Finally, it’s a good idea to stop and think about what you enforce at work. How hands-on are you? How much do you manage and how much do you micromanage? Instead of expecting perfection in everything you do, step back and figure out what actually impacts the bottom line. If you can pick some of your battles and let the little things go, you’ll reduce your stress level. You will also help your team to feel empowered and allow them to function like professional adults. Sometimes, not saying anything is the best management move you can make.
Remember, your job as a manager is to facilitate the empowerment of your employees. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is to let them do their jobs well. Step back when you need to, keep an open door, automate tasks, and make use of the skills of your team so you can do your job better. While changing the way you manage can be tough, it can also be one of the best ways to help everyone involved to succeed.
