5 Things You Can Do Today to Be a Better Manager Tomorrow

5 Things You Can Do Today to Be a Better Manager Tomorrow

The Boy Scouts motto of “always be prepared” can easily translate to the management spectrum. Preparation is key when it comes to reducing stress and improving office morale. It gets your mindset in the right place so when you walk into the office each morning, you set the tone of a productive, enjoyable workday.

Sounds great, but how do you make this happen? Here are five things you can do today to be a better manager tomorrow.

1. Start a New Hobby

Taking time out of your day to refuel is necessary. Even the hardest workers need a break now and then. Deprive yourself of this human need and you’ll stretch your patience thin, frazzle your mindset, and turn into a harder person to work for.

Find a hobby to focus on away from the workplace and away from your coworkers. This will give you a natural way to unwind so you can lead your team with a refreshed mindset.

2. Check the Schedule Ahead of Time

It’s natural to think ahead to what’s waiting for you the next day at work. Preparation can eliminate worry and help you be in the right mindset when you walk through the doors of your store or office. One of the best ways to do this is to know what you’re walking into. More specifically, who you’re walking into.

Check your schedule ahead of time so you can mentally prepare for your workday. If you need to bring in reinforcements, use your online scheduling app to request more help ahead of time so you’re not left shorthanded at the beginning of your shift.

3. Unplug Regularly

Did you know that the blue light that brightens your smartphone and computer screen can drain you of energy. Being exposed to excessive amounts of blue light can increase the risk of macular degeneration and contribute to digital eye strain.

Unplug from your digital devices regularly to recharge your internal batteries.

4. Start a Productivity Journal

When you close out each workday, do you feel accomplished? Or do you look around wondering where the time went?

Close out your business day by making notes in a productivity journal. Write down everything you achieved during your workday and everything you want to achieve the next day. This not only allows you to see what you did on paper, but it sets you up for a more productive tomorrow. This practice might not sound like much but it’s a powerful way to reset your mind and prepare for a new day in the office.

5. Schedule Fewer Meetings

Meetings are time and energy drains. Employees who are regularly scheduled for meetings oftentimes produce less during the day because their time and focus is in the conference room instead of on the tasks at hand.

Schedule fewer meetings to help give your team their time back so they can accomplish more.

Are You a Good Manager?

Being a manager is hard work. Keeping everyone happy takes effort and diligence. By taking care of yourself first, you can be the strong leader your team needs to accomplish more and enjoy their time at work.

Author Profile Jon Forknell is the Vice President and General Manager of Atlas Business Solutions, Inc., a software marketing company specializing in employee scheduling software, including ScheduleBase employee scheduling software, and other business software solutions. In the past, Jon has been recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Atlas Business Solutions was named as one of Software Magazine’s Top 500 Software Companies in 2004 through 2007 and again in 2010, 2013 and 2014.