In managing employees, you role is to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your team members.    The more you know about them, the more you can coach them to higher performance.    High performance employees are usually satisfied employees.   So how do you go about creating the ideal work environment to create high performing employees…given your strengths and weaknesses?

You need to be honest about your own strengths and weaknesses.

If you resisted the thought of evaluating yourself,  it’s really to your benefit to do so.  The more you know about yourself, the more you can manage your behaviors, learn new skills or hire the right talent to handle areas you are not as skilled in.

Managers are use to being in charge, directing meetings, telling employees what needs to be done, that it may be difficult to let go of the reigns and share the stage with one of your employees.   I find this post sums up nicely when you should let go.

“Bosses: When You Should — and Shouldn’t — Speak” by Jeff Haden on Inc.com.

If you’re the kind of boss who automatically takes the lead–whatever the issue at hand–you need to read this.

Setting clear performance expectations is part of managing employees.    Though not all managers feel comfortable setting the standards for all of their employees.  Creating expectations requires that you be clear on deliverables and the quality of the work provided by employees.

JJ Ramberg on NYReport.com provides interesting guidelines on two important aspects of managing employees.

From day one, you must make it clear that you expect employees to do their very best work for you.

The post provides two main ingredients in managing emplo9yees:   high standards and right priorities.

As we are at the end of one year moving closer to a new year, there are plenty of predictions on what will be important in the upcoming year.   We love to anticipate and plan.    What are your predictations around managing employees?  What will be important in motivating your employees?  As a leader and manager, it’s important you focus on how to support each employee and build strong teams.

“5 Leadership Trends to Watch in 2013” by Lindsay Olson on Money.UsNews.com.

Think social media is the only trendy thing in the business world? Think again. Management techniques and leadership styles have trends too, and as experts crop up with new strategies for managing employees, these trends evolve.

In the U.S., it’s important, as a manager, to be aware of the Americans with Disabilities Act.   Employees may have obvious and not so obvious disabilities and the law states you can’t discriminate against them.    In fact, you may be challenged to come up with reasonable solutions for disabled workers to perform the essential functions of their jobs.

“7 Hidden Traps in Managing Workers with Disabilities, and Dealing with the ADA” by Steve Bruce on HRDailyAdvisor.blr.com.   The post provides examples of issues that may arise in managing employees with disabilities and handling them.