What Kind Of Manager Do You Want To Work For?
Everyone works for someone. For employment, volunteering or family chores, everyone works for someone or reports to someone at some point. At times, managers get a bad wrap for not being sympathetic, being too political, being out of touch, etc. Sometimes, these stereotypes are real. Some managers are bad managers. Everyone has had, or likely will have, a bad manager or two throughout life.
Researchers and organizations spend millions trying to figure out how to be a better manager or teach better management skills.
Google noticed that many of their Software Engineers who excelled at engineering, struggled when they became Managers. They decided to do extensive research and analytics in order to “build a better boss.” The research was predicated on a number of things, including what Google employees preferred in their managers. They called the findings, Eight Habits of Highly Effective Google Managers.
Would you be surprised at what they discovered? After all, what do employees want in a manager? What do you want in a manager?
I’m studying the topic because we are revising some internal training for our volunteers, and I’m asking them what they want in a volunteer manager over their camp or mentoring club.
So what’s on your list?
Google’s big dollars and extensive analytics discovered that the basics are usually the best.
Google’s Eight:
- Be a good coach.
- Empower your team and don’t micromanage.
- Express interest in team members’ success and personal well-being.
- Don’t be a sissy: Be productive and results-orientated.
- Be a good communicator and listen to your team.
- Help your employees with career development.
- Have a clear vision and strategy for the team.
- Have key technical skills so you can advise the team.
Manager Pitfalls:
- Have trouble making a transition to the team.
- Lack a consistent approach to performance management and career development.
- Spend too little time managing and communicating.
Nothing on this list requires an MBA, right? Simple to write, but hard to apply! Even though it’s simple stuff, sometimes it’s just hard to do consistently and genuinely, while also accomplishing your own work and meeting the needs of your manager and the organization’s goals.
So how does your list for a good manager compare to this list?
