It’s not easy to be the perfect manager who’s a popular favourite among employees but also gets work done. You may find that there is no perfect balance between being a fun manager and an effective one.
However, we are here to tell you that it is possible. Yes, you can be the fun manager that is included in all the fun gossip and conversations while also being someone who people respect enough to get the work done.
Are you wondering how that can be done?
Here are our 5 tips that tell you exactly what you need to do to get the best of both worlds. Let’s dive right in!
1. Leading By Example
Have you heard of the saying “monkey see, monkey do”? While your team members aren’t monkeys, you can still apply this psychological trick to get your team to follow in your footsteps. The best way to get this done is to show them how to meet your expectations.
Leading by example essentially means that as their manager, you become an example for them. You become the goal they need to work towards. Instead of simply barking orders, take some time to demonstrate how you want things to be done. This helps you achieve quality in terms of work and also puts you in their good books for being supportive and friendly.
2. Organizing a Corporate Day Out
Corporate days out are highly underrated but extremely important and effective in helping the team bond with each other and with you. Many offices decide to skip this step and are highly work-centric, however, this puts team morale at risk and can tarnish the relationship you have with your employees.
A fun way to encourage everyone to bond is to plan a corporate adventure day out which involves many fun team-building activities. You can encourage your team to work together, develop communication skills and cooperate better with each other. It is also a great way to earn the tag of the “cool boss” who encourages fun along with work.
3. Sharing the Spotlight
To be a good manager, you need to understand when to let others on your team take the spotlight now and then. If you are seeing a lot of wins, it is not just you who’s doing the work. It is good practice to remind your team now and then that their hard work is appreciated and celebrated.
Moreover, make it a point to call out and applaud team members who have achieved massive business goals. This not only makes them feel appreciated but also becomes motivation to work harder. Sharing the spotlight with your employees lets them know that you truly value them and let them shine.
4. Creating a Positive Work Environment for Your Team
Nobody likes to work in an environment where they are constantly feeling pressured and stressed about work. It is important to ensure that you are not coming across as too controlling about who does what. In other words, you need to ensure that you are doing your best to provide a positive work environment for your team.
There are some super simple and subtle ways in which you, as a manager, can create a positive work environment at the office. Start by simply checking up on your team from time to time, asking everyone about their days, their workloads, etc. Try engaging them in small talk about how they’re planning to spend the weekend or what they thought about a newly released movie.
5. Welcome Feedback and Constructive Criticism
When you are managing a team in a large organisation, it is often easy to forget that it’s not just you who needs to give feedback to your employees. It is crucial to let your team have a say in things every once in a while. It also helps to involve them in discussions as you never know where the next big idea can come from.
Besides that, you should also try to maintain open communication with employees where they feel free to express their concerns or talk to you about issues. All employees, regardless of their positions, should be welcome to share their ideas and opinions on products, policies, procedures, etc.
To Sum Up
To be an effective manager, you don’t have to compromise on the fun aspects of your job. If you maintain the right balance between work and fun, you will have the results you seek while also having a team that is truly happy to have you as their manager.
5 Tips on Being an Effective and Fun Manager was last modified: October 21st, 2022 by
