Managing People at Work: Being Approachable, Problem Solving & More

You’ve dreamed of becoming a manager ever since you started your job, but now that you’ve got the position, you’re not quite sure how to make the best impact on your employees. There’s no “one size fits all” model to follow when it comes to managing, which means you’re free to experiment with the strategies that work best for you. In this article, we’ll share must-know tips to help you find your style and create a productive, supportive work environment. Let’s jump in!

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Making Yourself Approachable

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    Rid your mind of the word “manager” and replace it with “leader”. Leaders don’t require titles or promotions, they are people that inspire and motivate without regard to the setting or the team.[1]
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    Keep a good sense of humor. It makes you approachable and it helps you maintain perspective.[2] Don't take yourself too seriously. Everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time.[3]
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    Remember that your direct reports are people. They are not resources and they are not human capitol. They are people with families, feelings, and problems. It is not possible to separate work from home life. Be aware that people have personal lives and do the best you can to be sensitive to them. Treat everyone as your equal regardless of their title or position.[4] Remember to smile a lot and always maintain a pleasant demeanor.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Traits of Good Managers

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    Know your strengths and weakness. Know the strengths of your team as well as the weakness and allow for improvement.
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    Have a clear plan of what needs to be done. “By failing to plan you plan to fail.” Set long and short term goals.[5]
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    Be decisive.[6] When asked for your opinion, you should have it well thought out and present it persuasively. You should not waffle or stall. For big decisions, set a deadline, and have the decision by that time. If someone offers an argument that convinces you to change a decision, acknowledge it and embrace the new idea completely.[7]
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    Be Consistent. Your actions and reactions must be consistent. You don’t want to be the type of manager that everyone asks what kind of mood you are in before they approach you with an issue.[8]
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    Being flexible is very important and it does not conflict with being consistent. You must remain flexible to change directions, change rules, and change resources to remain competitive.
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    Communicate your expectations. Put them in writing whenever possible. Solicit feedback from the people you are leading. Know what they expect from you. Address any discrepancies immediately and clearly.[9]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Problem Solving

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    Focus only on solutions and not on problems. People gravitate toward solutions oriented individuals.[10]
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    Have a clear understanding in your own mind of things that you can change and the things that you cannot. Simply accept the things you cannot change and do not apply any energy to them what-so-ever. Then, focus all of your efforts on the things you can change. Action oriented people are always sought after and successful.
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    Remember that different things motivate different people and that people will do what they have incentive to do. It is your job to make sure that their incentives match your goals. For example, if you pay a bonus for people to produce a higher number of pieces, don’t be surprised if quality starts to suffer in favor of volume.[11]
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    Maintain the confidence of everyone in the organization. Managers frequently have access to more information than other employees. It is imperative that you never betray the confidence of the company, your manager, your peers, or your employees. Be sure that people can confide in you.
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    Hire slowly and fire quickly. Take your time hiring good quality people. Have several people interview and do thorough background checking. But, when you have a disruptive personality or person who fails to perform you need to take all steps to get rid of them as quickly as possible.[12]
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Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow

  • Question
    What's the difference between a leader and a manager?
    Harish Chandran, PhD
    Harish Chandran, PhD
    Machine Learning Engineer & PhD in Computer Science, Duke University
    Harish Chandran is the Engineering Site Lead and Senior Staff Research Engineer at DeepMind, where he leads the engineering efforts to integrate AI research results into Google products. Harish received his PhD in Computer Science from Duke University in 2012. While in graduate school, he worked as a Teaching Assistant, helping undergraduate students learn about algorithms and data structures. He has experience in DNA self-assembly, evolutionary algorithms, computational neuroscience, complexity theory, computer architecture, and super-computing.
    Harish Chandran, PhD
    Harish Chandran, PhD
    Machine Learning Engineer & PhD in Computer Science, Duke University
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    A leader's main goal is to inspire people. A manager just wants to push people in a specific direction. It's just a different perspective. In most cases, you want to inspire others, but there are certainly times when you need to just actively manage.
  • Question
    How can you inspire people to do better?
    Harish Chandran, PhD
    Harish Chandran, PhD
    Machine Learning Engineer & PhD in Computer Science, Duke University
    Harish Chandran is the Engineering Site Lead and Senior Staff Research Engineer at DeepMind, where he leads the engineering efforts to integrate AI research results into Google products. Harish received his PhD in Computer Science from Duke University in 2012. While in graduate school, he worked as a Teaching Assistant, helping undergraduate students learn about algorithms and data structures. He has experience in DNA self-assembly, evolutionary algorithms, computational neuroscience, complexity theory, computer architecture, and super-computing.
    Harish Chandran, PhD
    Harish Chandran, PhD
    Machine Learning Engineer & PhD in Computer Science, Duke University
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Vocalize and demonstrate. So in terms of vocalization, you need to communicate effectively. Make your expectations clear, give out praise when people perform, and provide feedback when necessary. In terms of demonstration, make sure that you're carrying yourself the way you want your team to carry themselves.
  • Question
    What should I be doing if I'm kind of hands-off as a manager?
    Harish Chandran, PhD
    Harish Chandran, PhD
    Machine Learning Engineer & PhD in Computer Science, Duke University
    Harish Chandran is the Engineering Site Lead and Senior Staff Research Engineer at DeepMind, where he leads the engineering efforts to integrate AI research results into Google products. Harish received his PhD in Computer Science from Duke University in 2012. While in graduate school, he worked as a Teaching Assistant, helping undergraduate students learn about algorithms and data structures. He has experience in DNA self-assembly, evolutionary algorithms, computational neuroscience, complexity theory, computer architecture, and super-computing.
    Harish Chandran, PhD
    Harish Chandran, PhD
    Machine Learning Engineer & PhD in Computer Science, Duke University
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    I think it's important to remember that feedback is really important. Even if you're kind of hands-off and you're happy with your team's performance, it's important for them to know that as well.
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Warnings

  • Remember that you will never control people or events. In fact the only thing in your life that you control is your own actions. Use your actions to motivate and to inspire. Don’t waste your time trying to control people. It cannot be done.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Don’t be afraid to admit you were wrong.[13] Everyone makes mistakes. You will eventually make them as well. When you do, admit it and learn from it. Making mistakes is always acceptable. Repeating them is not.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Being aware that people have personal lives does not mean you should ever get involved with their personal lives. Focus on your business relationship while keeping in mind that people have personal lives to attend to is your best bet. Avoid giving advice about personal and relationship issues.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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References

  1. ↑ Harish Chandran, PhD. Machine Learning Engineer & PhD in Computer Science, Duke University. Expert Interview. 5 June 2019.
  2. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/05/03/10-reasons-why-humor-is-a-key-to-success-at-work/#680a2b5c9016
  3. ↑ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-leaders-need-a-sense-of-humor/
  4. ↑ https://www.inc.com/margaret-heffernan/true-leaders-peel-vegetables.html
  5. ↑ https://managementhelp.org/leadership/development/leader.htm
  6. ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/250982
  7. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrismyers/2017/04/28/how-to-become-a-more-decisive-leader/#535e056a7433
  8. ↑ https://insiders.fortune.com/for-better-or-worse-a-consistent-leadership-style-is-key-to-success-25e71fcea78d
  9. ↑ Harish Chandran, PhD. Machine Learning Engineer & PhD in Computer Science, Duke University. Expert Interview. 5 June 2019.
  1. ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/249129
  2. ↑ Harish Chandran, PhD. Machine Learning Engineer & PhD in Computer Science, Duke University. Expert Interview. 5 June 2019.
  3. ↑ https://hbr.org/2014/03/hire-slow-fire-fast
  4. ↑ https://hbr.org/2015/06/be-a-leader-who-can-admit-mistakes

About This Article

Harish Chandran, PhD
Co-authored by:
Harish Chandran, PhD
Machine Learning Engineer & PhD in Computer Science, Duke University
This article was co-authored by Harish Chandran, PhD. Harish Chandran is the Engineering Site Lead and Senior Staff Research Engineer at DeepMind, where he leads the engineering efforts to integrate AI research results into Google products. Harish received his PhD in Computer Science from Duke University in 2012. While in graduate school, he worked as a Teaching Assistant, helping undergraduate students learn about algorithms and data structures. He has experience in DNA self-assembly, evolutionary algorithms, computational neuroscience, complexity theory, computer architecture, and super-computing. This article has been viewed 326,764 times.
6 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 13
Updated: March 3, 2023
Views: 326,764
Categories: Workplace Management Skills
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