Supporting our Managers

Organizations benefit if managers are able to lead their team successfully. It is imperative that organizations value their managers by promoting wellness and self-care and offering training and development opportunities for them to be successful. 

Wellness and Self-Care

Organizations should promote wellness and self-care for their managers. The past couple of years have been stressful, and while wellness and self-care should be promoted for all employees, managers who  lead teams need to refresh and recharge.  It is essential for managers to step away to de-stress and return to their team with a fresh perspective to lead effectively.  It could be something as simple as getting up and walking away from the computer for five minutes, taking a walk outside, or taking fifteen minutes to eat lunch absent a cell phone where email could be a distraction. More importantly, if managers can assess their level of stress, they will be able to detect signs of stress in their team. 

Training and Development

Managers should be trained in HR practices and procedures.  While a manager does not need to be an expert as a trained human resources practitioner, they should understand the basics of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Managers should also undergo training on the basics of the Health Insurance Accountability and Portability Act (HIPAA).

Core skill training should be offered in areas of communication. Listening to hear is essential.  Conflict resolution is also important.  Managers must understand how to identify conflict and more importantly, how to resolve it before the conflict reaches its peak.  And finally, managers must be trained in the area of emotional intelligence.  If a manager can understand their own emotions and deal with them, they will have a better chance at being effective in identifying and dealing with other employee emotions. 

Managers are leading our organizations. Understanding their value and supporting wellness and self-care and offering training and professional development opportunities will help organizations overall.  And, while all employees should be afforded the same opportunities, starting with supporting our managers is a foundation on which to build.

For more information on management training, check out our service offerings. Training can be tailored as needed.