A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. A somewhat stereotyped saying in the world of business, but a valid one.
If you are a manager who is looking to develop your team in 2025, it may be worth starting with the development of someone much closer to home. Yourself. You may have the best sales team, care team, or vet team in the world, but if you, as the manager, are not able to create an air of confidence in your team, or provide them with leadership while also overseeing the growth of the business, then it is all for nothing!
So, in 2025, you will need to adapt to the upgraded technologies and the use of automation. How can you do this and help your team and business to grow, all while improving your skills? Read on to find out!
Stay Updated with Emerging Technologies.
Improving people management is one thing, but as the use of artificial intelligence and automation continues to dominate industries, you, as the manager, must stay ahead of the curve to lead your team.
Aim to learn as much as you can about artificial intelligence, as this (along with automation) can help streamline operations for your business and help with informed decision-making. If you have an online store, it is worth investing in an AI chatbot to help those using your business’s website to ask questions. This will also help you identify areas that may need to be changed and updated, which can help you keep up to speed with industry trends.
Similarly, if you are overseeing a remote or hybrid team, it is worth looking into a collaborative platform, such as Slack or Microsoft Teams, to help with project management and keep in touch with all staff members. This will ease your workflow and reduce the stress and headaches of having to send multiple emails!
Foster Emotional Intelligence (EQ).
As a leader, irrespective of your area, you will need to invest in your emotional intelligence.
Some people will state that this is a pointless endeavor and point to the world-famous company Tesla and how operations such as that are run. However, if you are a manager who wants to retain your staff and not run them into the ground, investing in building stronger relationships with your team is important and can help to make your workplace run more effectively.
Engage in active listening, as this will help you to hear your employee’s concerns and will help them to feel supported. It can be hard to be a manager, so for your mental health, you should invest in options to better manage your stress, as this will help you remain calm under pressure. This can also help you to connect with your staff, as you can share these tips with them, assisting them in managing the stressors of life and the workplace. Everyone loves a boss who appears to be human!
Embrace Continuous Learning.
In your industry, in the coming year, there will be changes. As a manager, you should be continuously enhancing your skills and your knowledge by staying up to date on industry trends and management techniques. Speaking of self-improvement, you can and should enroll yourself in courses that can deepen your expertise, as this will help with project management, and financing areas of your business, and, of course, it will help you to develop your leadership skills.
Cultivate a Culture of Innovation.
A phrase can be deadly to growth and creativity in any workspace- “but we’ve always done it that way.”
In the current marketplace, as a manager, you need to foster innovation among your staff, so try to give your team members the autonomy to experiment with new ideas that can help grow the business. Try to gain diverse perspectives by looking into collaborative work and, of course, if your employees contribute to solutions that help the business to grow or spread brand awareness, reward them!
Strengthen Communication Skills.
Lastly, for your workplace to grow in 2025, you need to engage in effective communication with your staff. Aim to be clear and transparent with your team, articulating your goals and giving crystal clear feedback. When you are communicating with different staff members, who may have different levels of seniority, try to tailor your language and communication style. Of course, be articulate, but make sure that the key points are clear, as this will ensure that everyone in your company is on the same page with expectations.
[Photo credit: Depositphotos.com]
