CEOs often have held a manager position at one time or another in their career.  I find the difference between being a manager who moves up to executive management and being a manager who stays complacent is the ability to improve and take action (or vice versa). Are you taking action today to improve your managerial skills?

There are two ways you can start becoming a better manager today. These actions should be exercised on a daily basis.

#1.  Don’t solely focus on external customer service. Your job is to resolve internal conflicts. Sure, there is the HR department. I think managers should try to resolve challenges between employees before HR ever hears of the issue. You want your employees to be productive and happy.  Your effort to resolve internal customer service issues will help promote this type of an environment.

#2.  Be a ‘Yes’ man or woman.  Saying yes is a way to show you appreciate employees.  I know some managers who deny vacation and PTO time only because they can- not because they have a reason to do this. Don’t let petty control issues stunt your growth as a manager. If you can accommodate an employee, do it!

These tips may seem basic but they do work.  Sometimes it is the simple things in life that are often overlooked. And, it is these simple things that can prevent major conflict and resentment within the workplace.  So, try to resolve problems before they reach HR and say yes whenever possible.

Britanie Olvera, CEO of Building Team Solutions