How to Win As a Manager
Provider: Your strength is your unwavering support. I trust that you will never leave me dangling, exposed, and unprotected.
• I know you have my back. I can count on you to do what it takes to protect me, even if that’s giving me difficult feedback about something that I need to change. You are loyal to me and so I will always be loyal to you.
• Work alongside me and catch me doing things right. You have your senses tuned to what’s working, and this positive spin on managing my performance is incredibly encouraging. You don’t turn a blind eye to my misses, but you frame them with “Next time, try this . . .” That tells me you want me to succeed. It works.
• You are perceptive. You pick up on the subtle energies in the room and are tactful in addressing them. You call the elephants out from under the table and sort things out then and there. I admire you for this.
• Give us leeway to choose the appropriate actions to aid a service recovery for our clients. By empowering us to make good decisions and not slowing us down by requiring us to check in with you before offering a guest a solution, we feel trusted and valued.
• Create opportunities for us to “take our work hats off” and engage in real non-work-related conversations together. Whether it’s a payday luncheon or an informal off-site gathering, leverage the power of genuine connections to gel our team.
• You’re sensitivity is double-edged. I can be vulnerable with you, but sometimes it’s difficult for me to give you challenging feedback. I can feel your defensiveness creeping in. Counteract this by proactively seeking feedback and staying curious as to what comes up.