What Employees expect from their Manager

When discussing and reading about management, you will often hear the ideas about management principles such as John Adair. Valuable as these insights are, however possibly of even greater importance, is the opinion of the people that are being managed. Real management ability is only achieved when those being managed truly believe in the ability of their managers to fulfil their requires.

In a study of over 7500 employees they were asked what they most valued and admired about their manager.

Strength of character was the most important personal quality a manager can possess by far. Therefore, unless you can convince your people of your honesty and your ethics they simply will not trust you. To convince employees requires more than just words. This is because a manager is not judged by his words but by what he actually does. Things like broken promises, hushed-up problems and lack of correlation between words and deeds are clear signs of a lack of sincerity.

Competence was also considered important. Competence requires managers to possess a type of universal knowledge as well as organisational specific and technical know how. Managers must be able to control all situations. Naturally, the best indicator of competence is success. The higher a manager climbs the company hierarchy, the greater the strategic abilities will be expected of them. In times of crisis managers will be the first to give the organisation that little bit more. This does not mean that managers will be expected to have specialist technical knowledge. More important is a general ability to eliminate weaknesses and to motivate staff.

Many of those questioned used the terms of vision, dream and personal ambition to describe good managers. Lack of foresight is often quoted as the main shortcoming of good managers. Managers must know which direction the business is going and have a good eye for the future.

However, it is not simply not enough to have a dream for the future. You should express and enact the dream one a daily basis! Many staff are not just looking for a job, but a challenge. Inspiring staff, by showing enthusiasm and energy, helps to put ideas into practice on a daily basis.

So how can managers put these findings into practice? One of the most important things for any manager to do is to get to know your staff. After all, you can only lead your people if you know them well. Make sure you know their hopes and fears, their moral concepts and their motivation. In doing so, you are showing genuine personal interest in your people. Visiting customer together, for example, provides an excellent opportunity to put this into practice. 

Staff only look up to those with the courage of their convictions. However, never confuse steadfastness with stubborness. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time and can be taken in by another point of view. If this happens to you, openly acknowledge the mistake you made and change your opinion. You will only appear unconvincing if you suppress truths!

It is difficult to arouse enthusiasm in your staff without emotion and you will be unable to arouse enthusiasm in your staff. A bored manager generates boredom in the team. Show that success and failure creates an impression on you! Use anecdotes, metaphors, speak in lively and exciting language! Look people in the eye when you are speaking to them!

If managers are acknowledged as a superiors, they will in time become an idol to staff. Your team will want to emulate you in business at least. Therefore, always behave and make decisions as you would expect your staff to. No smoker can credibly forbid his/her children from smoking! Remember, your behaviour is an example to your staff.

The first man to climb to the top of Mount Everest said: You never conquer the mountain. You conquer yourself, your hopes and fears.

All managers are plagued by the following fears: Do I always know what is going on in my market place? Can I cope with problems if and when they arise? Am I making the right decisions for myself, for my team and for my company?

Never unsettle your staff by discussing these decisions with them. Employees do not want to be led by managers with doubts and worries. Learn to deal with your fears! Do not suppress your weaknesses, but look for improvements.

Following these guidelines you will fulfil your employees requirements and be a good manager. If you feel you need to develop your managerial skills, attend a good management training course.

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