Direct Reports: Who Are They? + Best Ways To Manage Them

Direct reports are employees who work under a manager and report to them. To make this definition more memorable, let’s give an example from TV.

Just think back to those lovable paper people from Scranton Pensylvania! While Dunder Mifflin from The Office may not be a perfect representation of a typical workplace and the relationship between managers and direct reports, it is still a useful one to revisit. In that particular scenario all the members of the Scranton branch like Jim Halpert or Dwight Schrute are great examples of direct reports.

We are not saying that you need direct reports like the beet-crazy Dwight but he does have some positive qualities that you would need from your direct reports such as hard work, loyalty, and creativity.

Below you can find detailed information on how to build a positive relationship with your direct reports, how to manage them, how to assign tasks to them, and more! So, without further ado, let’s discuss these topics and provide you with everything you need to know about direct reports!

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Manage Your Direct Reports Effectively

Realistically speaking, managing direct reports will be easier if you are using the right performance management software. But we are not talking about a run-of-the-mill tool. While there are plenty of great options when it comes to performance management systems, if your organization uses Microsoft Teams on a daily basis then the best option for you would be Teamflect.

As a software built specifically for Microsoft Teams users, you can bring all your management needs from tasks and goals, to feedback and reviews, into the platform where your team already does all their work.

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What Is A Direct Report?

Let’s first provide an answer for the question “What is a direct report?”. A direct report plays an important role in the hierarchical structure of a business.

Often interchangeably referred to as subordinates, reportees, or simply direct reports, these employees operate directly under the guidance of a superior within your organization.

A direct report is a term used for an employee who is directly managed and supervised by another individual in a higher position within an organization. This term is often used in the context of hierarchical work structures where employees report their progress, challenges, and needs to their immediate supervisor or manager.

The relationship between a direct report and their superiors is characterized by a clear top-down flow of instructions. A direct report receives tasks, directives, and performance expectations from their superiors.

A significant aspect of managing direct reports involves overseeing their overall performance and providing regular feedback. This feedback loop is integral to the professional development of direct reports, and it help them refine their skills and contributes to the attainment of broader organizational goals.

In essence, managing direct reports requires a delicate balance of leadership, communication, and performance evaluation. However, the size, structure, and performance goals of your organization will determine if having a hierarchical system is the best for you.

We have talked about the direct reports definition, now let’s discuss the best practices of managing direct reports!

How To Manage Direct Reports?

We answered the question “What are direct reports?” and now it’s time to talk about how to manage them. Managing direct reports is not an easy task but with these strategies, you can guide them in a way that both benefits your company and allows your direct reports to grow professionally.

1. Have regular meetings

The first step to effective management is making sure that you and your subordinates are communicating well. To achieve this, you need to conduct regular meetings with them.

Talking about current projects and keeping them on track will allow your direct reports to have a feeling of ownership. As a result, they will try to contribute more and exceed performance expectations.

2. Be clear with your instructions

It’s important to avoid ambiguity while managing subordinates. Managers should be clear about their expectations from their direct reports so that they can perform well. Both organizational goals and the personal targets expected from the subordinates should be clearly stated.

3. Be honest with your feedback

Providing honest feedback involves talking about both strengths and weaknesses because nothing is black or white, including employee performance. Therefore your feedback should address areas for improvement while also recognizing their contributions and efforts.

In addition to that, you should be as objective and honest as possible so that your direct reports can develop professionally.

4. Provide the necessary training

The success of the subordinates can be positively correlated with the training they receive from their managers. Subordinates can train themselves, and attend courses and workshops but the managers also must train their direct reports well.

5. Mentor your direct reports

Employee mentoring can be beneficial in various ways. It will help you build a relationship based on support and it will allow your direct reports to acquire new skills and positive attitudes. Lastly, it can boost productivity and contribute to the bottom line of your organization.

6. Include them in decision-making

They will understand that you value their thoughts if you ask for their input and include them in the decision-making process. As a result, they will become more confident in their ability to make decisions.

Furthermore, they will develop a sense of ownership in the success of their team because they will feel more responsible.

7. Invite them to share their opinions

Not everyone will feel at ease when expressing their thoughts. You could ask them to express their ideas and thoughts during meetings to solve this issue. Your direct reports will feel included, and you’ll convey your confidence in their capacity to come up with good ideas.

Assigning Tasks To Your Direct Reports

Managers should be able to effectively assign tasks to their subordinates. And to be effective at task delegation, you should know your employees well. Here are three ways to achieve this:

1. Assign the right task

Everyone has unique skills, so the tasks they are assigned should match these skills. When giving tasks to direct reports, managers should consider ways to bring out the best in each of them. By doing this, you will also save time and effort.

2. Discuss the benefits of doing the task

Giving employees a sense of purpose is one of the great employee motivation ideas. They also have to understand why they are performing a certain task because it will give them a sense of direction.

While talking about the importance and benefits of these tasks, you can add that their work supports the organization’s vision and they are contributing to the success of their team. As a result, your direct reports will be more enthusiastic to complete their tasks with precision.

3. Give them the resources

Your subordinates will need the resources to complete their tasks. You should also provide them with authority because you may not always be around and they might need to take the initiative.

Building A Positive Relationship With Your Direct Reports

To be an effective manager, you should build a healthy relationship with your direct reports. This will lead to increased productivity and your employees feeling supported.

Below you can find the best ways to build a positive working relationship with your subordinates.

1. Have a clear outline of your goals

You should have an organizational chart template to establish who your direct reports are and to identify their roles within your organization. After doing this, you can communicate your goals, priorities, and performance expectations with your subordinates.

You should also have a clear understanding of your direct reports’ goals and establish a path for development based on short-term and long-term goals.

2. Have one-on-ones regularly

One-on-one meetings have a number of benefits, including building your relationship with your direct reports and assessing their performance. One-on-one meetings can help you come across as more approachable, which will encourage your staff to ask questions and share their ideas with confidence.

It will eliminate the awkwardness for you and your direct reports if you ask them more personal questions during these meetings. You can ask them about their interests and aspirations. Your working relationship will be more enjoyable and productive as a result.

3. Consistently communicate with them

Direct reports can not always reach out to their superiors because they can be worried about disturbing their managers. So managers should make sure that they are consistently communicating with their subordinates and providing them with the support they need.

Performance Evaluation Of Direct Reports

Performance evaluation of direct reports should focus on rewarding high performance and addressing weaknesses through a future-oriented lens. By future-oriented lens, we mean that you should tell them how they can improve their skills and contribute more in the future.

You should also mention how their strengths will continue to benefit the organization so that they can be more enthusiastic about doing their best. Below you can find three ways to conduct effective performance evaluations.

1. Be specific and include examples

You should be unbiased and avoid dishonesty during your performance reviews. To be as exact as possible about the performance of your direct reports, you need to give examples.

Since concrete examples improve our ability to understand and remember information, including them will also help your subordinates understand your criticism and praise. Your direct reports will be more careful next time if they can recall the instances in which they delivered poor performance.

2. Include their career goals

People sometimes need reminders to focus on their overall career goals because they may be too busy with daily tasks and they might forget what they are trying to accomplish in a broader sense. So, if you remind them of these professional goals, it will help them channel their energy into improving their skills to excel in their careers.

Furthermore, when you talk about your direct reports’ career goals during performance appraisals, you are sending the message that your company cares about their professional development.

3. Pair positive feedback with constructive

If you are always focused on the negative, you will miss out on good things in life because positive things will not be on your radar. The same thing applies to performance evaluations of your direct reports because being critical all the time will not motivate them.

However, being optimistic all the time is not realistic and it will negatively affect your direct report’s performance in the long run. They might become complacent and avoid bettering the areas that need improvement.

So, try to pair positive feedback with negative because it will provide them with a more realistic and accurate perspective of their performance and will be more helpful in the long run.

Closing Words

We have provided you with direct reports definition, a comprehensive guide on managing direct reports as well as tips on building a positive relationship with them.

We also highlighted the fact that effective performance management starts with seeing the value of your direct reports and using their skills and expertise in the best way possible. To see the value of your direct report, you need to look closer and know them on a more personal level.

When we define direct report relationships with superiors, we should be able to say that it includes support and respect because you can unlock the potential of your direct reports when you display these fundamental attitudes.

As reportees who are passionate about serving their companies, you need to make sure that you effectively manage your subordinates. Thankfully there is performance management software you can use to facilitate your management and the best one for Microsoft Teams is Teamflect!

Using Teamflect, you will easily communicate with your employees and you will be able to support them better if you facilitate your communication with them.

So, click the button below to use Teamflect to manage your direct reports in the best way possible!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a direct report?

The meaning of direct report is that it is an employee who works under a superior. Another word for direct report is subordinate and subordinates can have employees who report to them as well.

For example, the marketing lead of a company supervises the content manager but the content manager also has a team that they lead. Usually, managers have multiple direct reports who work under their supervision.