Management Styles
Team Player
To be an effective manager, you need to understand the basic styles of management and when they are or are not appropriate. What follows is one of the most common styles of management, that of team player, and when it is appropriate to use this style.
What is a Team Player?
A team player is someone who is comfortable working with a group of people who are working together to accomplish a common goal. This manager is adept at combining the skills and ideas of his coworkers to accomplish a task and giving everyone a sense of having contributed to the success of the project. To be a true ‘team player’, a manager must enjoy the trust and respect of the people he works with. It is not a manager’s job to direct others so much as it is a manager’s job to support those who perform the functions of business. Management is the art of accomplishing a task with the help of others.
The Scenario
Mark worked in a factory making metal parts. He did his job well, and he got along well with the people in his department. Management was puzzled by him though, and they began to to discuss him in their staff meetings. Mark was often seen working with someone in his department. It appeared he was getting his own work done, but still, he was often found somewhere other than at his own station. As management investigated further, they discovered he frequently helped his co-workers figure out how to do something, or he was fixing a small problem. The more they learned about Mark, the more they found everyone liked and respected him. His co-workers really appreciated his help.
Eventually Mark's manager approached him and asked him about this. Mark explained that he just enjoyed helping out when he had the time to do so and he'd found he often had extra time that needed to be put to good use. Since no one else seemed to have spare time, the manager started to pay attention to how Mark did his job.
After watching Mark set up his machine, the manager discovered that Mark had found a more efficient way to feed the materials into the machine. It required less intervention by him, which left him some free time. He was using that free time to help the others in his department set up their machines to operate in a way that best fit each person's skills. This was the reason he was so well liked. Mark was making their jobs easier, and wasn't bragging about it.
Mark's manager offered Mark a promotion to line manager, which he readily accepted. Sometimes a company will find itself promoting people unexpectedly.
Balancing Act
Being both a team player and a manager is a tricky course of action. The positive side of this type of management style is that morale among the employees is good. This type of manager brings a sense of fair play and harmony to the workplace. The employees feel they are respected, and that their ideas are being considered and included when changes are implemented.
The negative side of this type of management style is that the employees can become too familiar with the manager. This can cause the manager a few challenges when he has to take a firm stand on something or when a team approach just isn't possible. The chain of command becomes fuzzy to the employees, and some employees may not take the manager's directions seriously because they see the manager more as a friend than as their manager.
It is important to always remain professional. You cannot be both a friend and the boss. You can be friendly, supportive, and encouraging, but you must always remain in charge. When a decision is announced, it can be made clear you made the decision after considering everyone's opinion. This reminds them that although they all contributed, you made the final decision.
Conclusion
This type of management style is the preferred way of managing in most situations. Knowing the positives and negatives can make you more effective in your performance. Remember, you must stay friendly, while keeping some separation between yourself and those that you manage.
Does your management team need to improve its skills? TML Business Services can help you set up a training program you can carry out yourself or we can deliver one for you. TML Business services provides effective management training and management coaching. Contact TML Business Services.