A manager’s job is to lift up employees and help them succeed, and employees need individual attention to be successful, from the high performers who want praise and recognition to the low performers who require extra attention.

“Teaching” managers are better equipped to help all employees improve, tackle bigger challenges, and take on more responsibility.

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WAYS TO BE A “TEACHING” MANAGER13

Think through potential obstacles and pitfalls and make backup planning part of every work plan.

Provide advice, support, motivation, and even inspiration once in a while.

Get input.

Listen carefully.

Monitor, measure, and document individual performance in writing.

Talk about what’s going right, wrong, and average at every step of the way.

Turn best practices into standard operating procedures, and teach them to everybody.

Remind everybody of broad performance standards regularly.

Focus on concrete actions within the control of the individual employee.

Follow up, follow up, follow up, and provide regular, candid feedback.

Answer questions.

Learn from what your employees are learning on the front line.

Strategize together.