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Lower Management
Lower-level managers are comprised of first-line managers who handle the daily operations of the company. Most job titles in lower management are Shift Supervisor, Foreman, Store Manager, Office Manager, Crew Leader, Accounts Officer and Department Manager. They are often the ones working directly with employees.
The Lower-Level Managers
Lower management functions as supervisors and they directly manage frontline employees. Lower-level managers do not make decisions, form strategies or set goals for the organization. Planning and organizing are the functions of upper management while lower-level management focuses on leading and controlling. Nevertheless, the first-line managers’ performances are very important in a company. As they deal with operations and workers on a daily basis, they create quite an impact on them. Furthermore, lower-level managers interact with employees the most. They supervise their performance and monitor their productivity and they are the ones who can immediately see any sign of poor performance. First-line managers always need to perform at their best as employees take directions from them.
Before, just about anyone could become part of lower management but now, first-line managers need to be a graduate of a trade school or a bachelor’s degree holder. Times are changing and competition is getting tougher. First-line managers need to be equipped with the right skills and knowledge to be able to drive employees to achieve the goals of the company.
Activities of Lower-Level Management
Lower management is more of supervising and leading workers every day. In fact, they are the ones who work the most daily. They have plenty of activities to perform and any mistake or error can be costly. Since they work with employees directly, they need to make sure all instructions and information are accurate. Moreover, lower-level managers should make sure that they have time to supervise all workers who are working under them. Here are the daily activities they need to perform:
- They instruct and guide workers in the daily activities.
- They listen to suggestions, comments, recommendations and problems of employees.
- Since they work with workers directly, they are trusted to handle conflicts and to ensure a harmonious working environment for everyone in the company.
- They take responsibility for the quality of work as well as the quantity produced.
- They make the necessary arrangements when it comes to the resources like materials, tools and machinery.
- They try to help workers who have problems that are affecting their work.
- They take the role of motivators to motivate employees.
- They provide training to old and new workers to ensure efficient performance.
- While supervising, they ensure discipline and focus among employees.
- At the end of each period, they present reports to middle managers regarding the performance of their employees.
First-line Managers as Leaders
A lower-level manager’s main responsibility is directing and controlling. They direct workers and control their daily activities. Among the main roles of management, first-line managers take on leading the most. This makes lower-level managers the leaders for their subordinates; they are there for others to emulate and follow.
As a leader, first-line managers should effectively lead employees and workers. To do this, a first-line manager must be a good example and show that he can lead himself as well. When workers see discipline and determination from their “boss,” they will be inspired to work too. Another way for a first-line manager to be an effective leader is to make a plan for action. These managers are responsible for making plans for the workers and the plans should be effective and productive. Lastly, first-line managers should be flexible, adaptable, and highly effective communicators. Working with different people every day needs a lot of patience and understanding, as well as good interpersonal skills.
Lower-Level Management as Image Builders
First-line managers are referred to as the image builders of the company because they are the ones working with frontline employees directly. Employees often look at the lower-level managers as the representation of what the company is all about. If they see that the manager handles employees well, they believe that the whole organization shows genuine concern for employees. Seeing the several activities performed by first-line managers daily, these activities show how competent their manager is.
Lower management focuses on basic supervision, career planning, motivating, and providing performance feedback to employees. All these roles bring low-level managers closer to the employees. Out of all the managers in the organization, workers feel closer to their first-line manager. This is extremely beneficial for the company especially if they have excellent lower managers since they can foster loyalty and sincerity among employees. Hence, it is important that first-line managers represent the image of the company well.
Duties and Responsibilities of Lower-Level Management
Lower management plays a very important role in any company as they direct and control the activities of employees. As you probably know, employees are the lifeblood of a company. If employees are unproductive, then their company will fail. Since first-line managers work directly with employees, their importance is considered invaluable. Take a look at the important duties and responsibilities of lower-level managers below:
- First-line managers direct employees. They direct them to perform well everyday and direct them towards the goal of the company.
- They are responsible for giving feedback on performances.
- They direct and control the different day-to-day operations of the company.
- First-line managers help boost the morale of their workers through motivation. A happy worker is a productive one.
- They are responsible for informing workers about the decisions of top management.
- First-line managers are responsible for making daily, weekly and monthly plans for workers.
- First-line managers act as a link between workers and the middle managers.
- They may have low authority but their responsibilities are immense. They get the job done every day and produce reports to middle management as required.
- The directly report to middle management.
Besides having the necessary management skills, they also need to know technical and communication skills so they can teach and guide workers accordingly.
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- Autocratic Management
- Democratic Management
- Laissez Faire Management
- Lower Management
- Management by Coaching and Development
- Management by Competitive Edge
- Management by Consensus
- Management by Decision Models
- Management by Exception
- Management by Information Systems
- Management by Intercourse
- Management by Matrices
- Management by Objectives
- Management by Observation
- Management by Organizational Development
- Management by Performance
- Management by Styles
- Management by Walking Around
- Management by Work Simplification
- Middle Management
- Paternalistic Management
- Seagull Management
- Upper Management