Leadership: 7 Ways to Become a Role Model Manager

Leadership role models lead, inspire, and garner respect. These 7 tips can help you to become a better leader and a role model manager.

Published on 14 October, 2016 | Last modified on 17 April, 2023
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A role model manager is one who inspires those who work for him or her and exhibits managerial excellence in many aspects of the business. While having all the traits of a leadership role model is not very common, the 7 skills listed below can help you lead, inspire and garner respect, and continue to grow and improve as a manager. Plus, a few tips on how Mimeo can help you become a role model manager.

1. Present a Positive Attitude

No one is saying that you aren’t allowed to have a bad day now and then, but if you can exhibit strength, calm, and perseverance even during stressful times, you will instil the same within your employees. Your positive attitude is contagious, and it makes your team stronger. A positive team will be better able to troubleshoot problems and overcome adversity in the workplace.

2. Earn and Build Trust

A role model manager must be trustworthy. Your team won’t feel inclined to show you much respect if you aren’t true to your word and honest with your employees. And, keep in mind that building trust takes hard work. You have to earn your employees’ trust through your efforts over time. 

3. Exhibit Integrity

A good manager will make decisions for the betterment of the business as a whole and not just for him or herself. Employees will respect a manager that genuinely cares about the business and those who work within the organization. Take responsibility for your actions and give credit where credit is due. When a team member goes above and beyond to get the job done, reward him or her. Company-branded merchandise (SWAG) always makes a memorable gift. Mimeo has a wide selection of Promotional Products, from tote bags to t-shirts, to caps, and more, that are sure to make any employee feel appreciated and proud to wear your company’s SWAG.

4. Lead and Inspire

Take care to always lead by example in a responsible manner, and your employees will follow suit. A good leader motivates his team rather than criticizes them and strives to inspire team members to reach their full potential. Remember that leadership role models don’t come to lead overnight. Audit your skills and habits. What do you need to develop? Harvard Business Review suggests acting as an “organizational anthropologist.” Look for a person skilled in the area that you need to develop and learn from them.

5. Make Time for Employees

Effective communication is essential for any organization to run smoothly. Make sure you always have time for employee concerns or questions and offer your advice and wisdom, if applicable. Let them know that you have their best interest in mind by sharing and referring to training manuals, policies and procedures, and employee handbooks. If you need training or other employee materials printed, know that Mimeo offers a variety of human resources print options, delivered as soon as the next day.

Additionally, you can also give your employees back hours of their time by outsourcing the printing of these materials to Mimeo. Time normally spent standing in front of a printer, folding brochures, or communicating with a local print shop for proofs can be saved for more important tasks. Choosing partners, like Mimeo, to outsource tasks like printing can be an important tool for increasing employee efficiency and making them feel more valued at work.

6. Learn About Your Employees

Your employees are your biggest assets and they have lives outside of the workplace. They have families, interests, and occasionally problems that might interfere with their performance. Take time during lunch or after work to get to know them better and plan company activities and outings. Doing so shows that you respect your employees as individuals, both in and out of the workplace.

Role Model Manager - Leadership role model examples

7. Offer Support, Encouragement, and Appreciation

Just as you might have a bad day, so too might some of your employees. Offer support and encouragement by creating a healthy workplace environment and taking the time to understand any problems or difficulties your employees may be having.

All of the above traits combined are what makes a role model manager that employees can look up to. Working for such a manager leads employees to strive to do better themselves and positively affects the company as a whole.

It also helps to show your appreciation for your team and the great work they’re doing. It can be as simple as a quick email, a team lunch, or even fun or useful gifts.

For some fun gift ideas, look into promotional products that your team members will actually use, like branded pens, desk games, or t-shirts and hoodies. We have been helping businesses print and distribute high-quality materials for over 20 years. And we’re making teams feel more appreciated, one piece of SWAG at a time.

In Conclusion

Being a role model manager is not an easy task, but with the right set of skills, any manager can become one. By presenting a positive attitude, building trust, exhibiting integrity, leading and inspiring, making time for employees, learning about them, and offering support and encouragement, a manager can inspire those who work for him or her and exhibit excellence in many aspects of the business.

Mimeo is here to support managers in their journey to become leadership role models by providing high-quality print and promotional products that help businesses distribute marketing and training materials and make teams feel appreciated. With these skills and support, managers can positively impact their employees and their company as a whole.

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Mimeo Marketing Team

Mimeo is a global online print provider with a mission to give customers back their time. By combining front and back-end technology with a lean production model, Mimeo is the only company in the industry to guarantee your late-night print order will be produced, shipped, and delivered by 8 am the next morning. For more information, visit mimeo.com and see how Mimeo’s solutions can help you save time today.

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