Management tools refer to techniques or means used by managers to influence employees.

Managers have an immense responsibility and, above all, a massive influence on their employees. They also control the work processes within a company. To ensure that this influence also has a positive effect on the company’s success, managers use so-called leadership tools. They have both direct and indirect management tools at their disposal.

What are management tools - a graph showing the most important elements

Direct management tools

With the help of direct management tools, managers have the opportunity to directly influence the behavior of employees.

  • Giving feedback
  • Praise and appreciation – motivation
  • Constructive criticism talks
  • Employee interviews
  • Creating trust
  • Participation in decisions
  • Transferring individual tasks
  • Promotion and development of individual employees – Career planning
  • Clear assignment of individual tasks

Indirect management tools

Using indirect management tools, management tools do NOT directly impact employees. Rather, they create a working environment that has a positive impact on individual employees.

  • Designing the working environment
  • Selection of personnel
  • Creating incentives and control systems
  • Establishing clear rules
  • Competitive behavior between employees
  • Team development – team events, team building, etc.

The success of management tools is not quantity, but quality.