How to be a manager every team wants

This post came out from The Straits Times (29 June 2016)
Title - How to be a manager every team wants

Some pointers that I've got are:
1. Be clear on objectives
2. Motivate your team
3. Acknowledge good work
4. Handle employees' mistakes effectively
5. Be flexible and creative

On Be clear on objectives

• Build and motivate a capable team which is well-equipped with the fundamental skills. Set ground rules and make your expectations known. 
• When building your team, focus on developing technical competencies which are hard skills but do not neglect behavioural traits which are soft skills such as communication. Provide regular and specific feedback so that team members know what to improve on or modify. Do not forget to give positive feedback as well.

On Motivate your team

• Go beyond basic competencies to nurture a high-performance team that delivers consistently stellar results. 
• Managers sometimes assume their roles is to produce business outcomes and results. This role is necessary of course, but they also are appointed as managers to coach and lead others. Managers must learn to inspire others. If they can do this well, team members will be motivated to do their best for the team. 
• Get to know each of your team members, understand their strengths and developmental gaps, and nurture them to be successful. It is important to set challenging yet achievable goals for the team. Providing regular constructive feedback can push the team to excel. 
• Great managers are also great teachers. A personalised approach to nurture each member is useful. Spend time with the team and get to know each person's values, as well as what motivates, excites and inspires him or her.

On Acknowledge good work

• Make your team feel appreciated and valued. There are many ways of giving praise. Possible ways can be public praise, writing a nice email and copying the management, or offering a celebratory meal. A pay rise and promotions are not the only ways to give credit for good work. 
• If the aim is to encourage team spirit, the aware can be given at a team level so that the team can enjoy the fruits of labour together.

On Handle employees' mistakes effectively

• What can managers do when employees mess up at work?
• Find out the obstacles and difficulties employees are facing, ask them to evaluate what they could have done better, focus on improvements, and turn slip-ups into strengths.
• Mistakes are great learning opportunities. Focus on doing things right or differently the next time. Do not focus too much on what went wrong. Be solution-focused as it is much more positive and inspiring.

On Be flexible and creative

• Rigidity or complacency can stagnate the progress of the team. With ever-changing business conditions and client expectations, being agile and closely attuned to business climates are useful survival skills. 
• Shift away from tried-and-tested formulas if they are no longer as useful or pertinent. Pushing frontiers to execute new ideas, and exploring new ground can spur the team to achieve more. 

Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big