Growth is generally a good thing, as it indicates progress and more opportunities for success. As an organization grows, there will be a need to structure new departments for more efficient output. When this happens, you’ll also need to hire new managers to oversee the new units, meaning you’ll not only be managing one set of workers anymore but other managers as well.
Managing your workers is already challenging, and guiding other managers can be just as troubling if you don’t know what you’re doing. Whether you work in a dental office or any other setting, you need to learn how to effectively manage other managers if you want the business to succeed.
If you are managing other managers for the first time, or if you feel like you’re doing something wrong and need help, here are some quick tips to improve your role as a manager of managers:
Create a Supportive Dental Office Environment
As a manager, it can be easy to get upset when your team isn’t able to meet your expectations. A common mistake of managers is getting emotional during such times, missing the chance to practice empathy and better understand what’s going on with your team members. To make sure you don’t make this mistake, you can avoid dealing with your personnel when you feel like you are in an emotional state. Clear your thoughts first so you can better organize your ideas, and deliver constructive feedback as necessary to help your managers do better.
Creating a supportive environment builds trust in your team, which also leads to better communication. Your team will feel more comfortable opening up to you about what they find challenging, allowing you to assist them and set them up for success.
Always Treat Them with Respect
Regardless of how high you may be up on the management ladder, it’s important to ensure that you always treat your team members with respect. Respect goes both ways, and they will respect you more as their manager if they feel that you also give them due respect in their positions. Acknowledge their capabilities and show them that you appreciate their hard work.
If one of your managers is underperforming, be sure to provide constructive feedback instead of just piling on what they’re doing incorrectly. Sometimes, you can feel too upset by your team’s underperformance that you unknowingly push your frustrations out on them. To prevent straining your relationship with your managers, think about how you would feel in a role reversal.
Putting your feet in your team’s shoes is an excellent way to practice empathy. It helps you figure out the best way to provide feedback and make suggestions about their performance without offending them in any way. Maintaining a good professional relationship with your team is ideal if you want to maximize office productivity for all parties involved.
Take Time to Listen
One of the most essential skills you need to hone as a manager and a leader is listening. Listen to your team and focus on what they are saying to get a better understanding of where they are coming from. You don’t always have to talk; you can just stand down, listen, and absorb their thoughts. Show that you are genuinely interested in what they have to say and that you appreciate them opening up to you.
If your managers believe that you are actively listening to them, it helps you to build better rapport with them which is integral in working together. When you are in a conversation, don’t multitask. Drop distractions and give them your undivided attention. Make eye contact as you listen, and you can even take down notes if necessary. The important thing is to make your managers feel comfortable in telling you any problem or concern so that you can address it properly if needed.
A Final Word on Guiding Managers at the Dental Office
A dental office is a busy place, and it needs effective management to run properly. After all, it’s not just a place of business, it’s also a facility for high-quality healthcare. Making sure your managers are guided accordingly in their tasks is essential to keep your dental office at an optimal level.
Being respectful, transparent, and mindful of your manager’s needs are good qualities that can help you guide them better to lead your dental clinic to new heights. Ideally, you also want to make sure that the equipment at the dental office is of good quality to make their management easier. If you need help in securing any dental tools or equipment, you can always count on Supply Doc for high-quality products. Supply Doc offers better prices on top brands trusted by dentists, allowing you to save money while still delivering top-tier services.