Leadership tasks: Daily Business of a Manager

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A leadership culture that motivates, promotes teamwork and creates stable conditions in which employees can move safely - that is the ideal situation. But German companies seem to lack this, as a study by Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences showed. Of a total of 400 respondents, 80 % said they would not see poor leadership behavior as a reason to quit for a long time. The operating result is much more important, as many as 90 % of the participants agree. But achieving profits is by no means the only criterion that defines a good manager. Time and again, it can be observed that problems in the company are triggered by management personnel who do not fulfill their management tasks properly.

This is reason enough to define once again exactly what leadership tasks actually are. Which are assigned to the Team management and what does the management take care of? And does it make sense to assign certain tasks to delegate? All these questions we now clarify.

What are leadership tasks?

Leadership tasks are tasks that managers take on, sure. But what exactly does that mean? Organizing, planning, coordinating and controlling are the order of the day on the management floor. The tasks of management personnel are very complex, because they go hand in hand with a lot of responsibility.

Typical management tasks at a glance

Many managers know that they have a superior position in the company, but it is not always clear what specific tasks this entails. The reason for this is simply that it is impossible to say in general terms what exactly is on the to-do list of management personnel. In every industry, indeed in almost every company, the hierarchies are set up differently. There are the bosses who come into the office early in the morning, work through a flood of e-mails and phone calls, gobble down their lunch on the side so as not to waste any time, and are the last to turn off the lights every day. But then there are the supervisors who hand off routine tasks because the flat hierarchy in the company allows it.

This gives them time to show more presence and strengthen the relationship with the employees. But one thing remains a fact in any case: As a manager, you pull the strings. But that doesn't mean that employees are your puppets! They want a supervisor who is open with them, speaks plainly and does not leave them in the dark about what is happening in the company. A typical leadership task is therefore also to ensure open and honest communication.

Ideally, the relationship between management and the team is empathetic and trusting. You can rely on employees to complete the tasks you have given them. Conversely, they can be sure that you will treat them with respect at all times and never take advantage of them. One of the things that determines what typical leadership responsibilities you will have is the exact position you hold. Are you a team leader or a company manager?

What are the leadership responsibilities of a team leader?

As a team leader, you are an important link between employees and upper management. As the name suggests, you are above your team in the company hierarchy, but the company boss is still superior to you. Between you there may be a department manager. Usually there are several team leaders in a company, each of whom looks after the employees in a particular department. You work with them as equals, but never forget that you are the person who has the final say.

A typical task of a team leader, for example, is to pass on important information from upper management. On the other hand, you bring to the attention of the head of the company what problems there may be in the team. After all, you work very closely with him and you notice things that he might miss. That makes you an important advisor.

You make sure that everything runs smoothly within your team. In addition, you make sure that everyone completes their tasks, arrives at work on time and keeps to their break times. You also prepare the work and vacation schedules, for example. You discuss the exact tasks with the head of the company. But no matter what you agree on, you will always have a task: You will be the first point of contact for all team members, taking care of their concerns and passing them on to the next level if necessary.

What are the management responsibilities of a company CEO?

As the head of the company, you have the greatest responsibility. Your central task is to fulfill the company's purpose. This means that you take all organizational and personnel measures that are necessary to move the company forward. You decide exactly what these measures are.

Your leadership tasks as a company manager also include hiring employees and negotiating salaries with them. You determine who takes on which tasks, always keep control over everything that happens in the company and also monitor the finances.

Tasks of a leader

The 5 most important tasks of a manager

No matter if you are a team leader, a company manager or any other executive - a few tasks are always the same. We have compiled the five most important ones for you here.

1. communicating goals and visions

As a manager, you act as a role model. You represent the company and the vision for which it stands. You communicate this vision to your employees and show them time and again what makes coming to work every day worthwhile. After all, everyone wants to feel needed and valued. We all want to make a meaningful contribution, and if we don't think that's the case, it doesn't exactly have a positive effect on our employees. Motivation off.

If you communicate the company's goals and visions authentically, you help employees to identify better with the company. In this way, they are often even more motivated to come up with their own ideas that can move the entire team forward. Give them the opportunity to express their suggestions openly. In this way, you convey to them on the one hand your Appreciation and on the other hand enables the formation of a very unique spirit.

2. arouse motivation

There are always phases in which motivation drops. There can be various reasons for this. Often the problem is that employees do not feel taken seriously, misunderstood or not sufficiently valued. As a manager, it is your task to act quickly in such situations. Show empathy and invite the employees in question to a personal meeting in which you listen to what they have to say and respond to them.

To avoid a lack of motivation in the first place, it is worthwhile to hold regular feedback meetings. Talk openly with your employees, find out how they are doing at the moment, and Satisfaction and don't be afraid to ask them what they would like to change. This shows them that you value their opinion and take their concerns seriously. The feel-good factor increases and so does motivation.

3. create a pleasant working atmosphere

Where different people meet, conflicts arise from time to time. This is quite normal and not necessarily a bad thing. Disagreements can sometimes even move a company forward, because they show where there is still room for improvement. Nevertheless, arguments should never be the order of the day. Your job as a manager is to ensure that this is the case.

Unresolved conflicts are pure poison for the working atmosphere and therefore also for the Productivity. Show employees that it doesn't always have to be about finding a scapegoat to take the blame. The most important thing is to find a solution that everyone involved can live with. You pave the way for this.

4. create support structures

Every functioning company needs structures. Of course, it is important to give all employees the chance to contribute ideas. But that doesn't mean that everyone should cook their own soup. Also Personal initiative requires a certain framework so that the corporate structure is not lost. Organized processes provide support and all employees know their place and their tasks exactly.

5. take a look in the mirror

We have already mentioned it: You are a role model for the employees. As such, you naturally want to be taken seriously, right? No matter how many values and visions you preach, all that will be of no use to you if you don't behave accordingly yourself. So practice Self-reflection and regularly question your own behavior.

Do you abide by all the rules you have set yourself? Do you act according to the company philosophy? Are you perhaps resting on your superior position? Be the superior you would want yourself to be!

Can management tasks be delegated?

As a manager, part of your job is to distribute tasks. But what about leadership tasks? Can they be delegated, or does that give an unprofessional impression? The fact is that a lot of responsibility rests on your shoulders and your position comes with countless activities. Time is often in short supply for managers, and that really doesn't benefit the team.

Where are the capacities left for things like personnel development and motivation? You can find the time you need by delegating certain management tasks. You don't need to have a guilty conscience towards your team. In fact, they will benefit from it in many ways! You give your employees the opportunity to prove their abilities and to develop themselves further.

You're showing them a high level of trust by handing over certain leadership responsibilities, and they'll appreciate that. It has been proven that this results in an increased Self-esteem in the job and also satisfaction increases - the latter even increases in a double sense. Thanks to the delegation, you finally have more time to focus on the Needs of the team. You can show more presence and build an even more trusting relationship with the employees, which has a positive effect on the working atmosphere.

What exact tasks can managers delegate?

Basically, you can hand over all tasks that do not necessarily have to be done by you. You can easily find out what these are with the help of the so-called priority matrix. You can use it to divide your tasks into A, B and C tasks. A-tasks require your competence and make your success as a manager measurable. In addition, they must be completed immediately, otherwise you will prevent others involved from moving forward.

B-tasks are at least as important, but not as urgent as A-tasks. Examples of this include sales planning or the preparation of large projects. You can delegate B-tasks in parts. It is important that you only use employees who you trust 100 % and who you know have the necessary skills. Do not forget to control the work.

C-tasks are not urgent and not so important that you absolutely have to do them yourself. They are not necessarily management tasks. You can therefore pass them on to your team. These include, for example, research work or the creation of presentation materials.

core tasks leader

Planning, organization and coordination in your hands

As a manager, you take on a lot of responsibility, that's obvious. Numerous tasks await you. It's not just a matter of leading the company to economic success. Ensuring employee satisfaction and motivation is also on your list. All of this takes up a lot of time.

Fortunately, you don't necessarily have to do all the tasks that land on your desk yourself. If you put them all in the priority matrix, you will quickly find activities that particularly reliable and competent employees can take over for you. Don't worry, no one will think that you're only delegating management tasks in order to lie on your lazy skin. Delegation is a true sign of trust and gives employees the opportunity to develop.

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Reviewed by Dr. med. Stefan Frädrich

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