4 things every manager should do

Being in charge of employees can be difficult, especially for owners who lack management experience. But, it’s important to be a leader your crews enjoy working for.

Here are four things good managers should do:

1. Trust your employees. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving your employees in charge, why did you hire them to begin with? Building trust with your workers can take time, and that’s to be expected. But, don’t constantly monitor what they’re doing if they haven’t given you a reason to. Instead, check in with them periodically to make sure they aren’t having trouble. You can even have employees report back to you every day/week, instead of micromanaging them.

2. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. To build respect with workers, it’s important to show them you aren’t too good for the tasks you ask them to do. That doesn’t mean you have to be on the jobsite every day, but make sure your crews wouldn’t be surprised if you jumped on a piece of equipment or pitched in with installing plants.

3. Communicate. Keep employees in the loop about how the company is doing. Whether you win a big bid or lose a longtime client, let your crews know. You can discuss topics in your weekly meeting. This will help them feel connected to the company, which in turn makes them care more about its success.

4. Be wrong. If you make a mistake, say so. You’re only human, so it’s just a matter of time before something you say or suggest doesn’t work. Admitting to being wrong will show you’re vulnerable — which isn’t a bad thing. Employees will be more comfortable talking with you in the future if they mess up, and it also shows them you don’t think you’re perfect.