Manager – Not made by Technology Alone

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It doesn’t take a Manager to tell you that Technology evolves daily and that everyday some new invention makes its way into our offices, that promise to make life easier.  Any manager can utilize any kind of technology to improve the overall performance and productivity of his team and his organization, however that alone does not make him an effective or great manager.

It is the manager’s interpersonal skills and the way he treats his employees that determines whether he is great or not.

Confidence – not the synonym for arrogance

People still can’t distinguish between the two; those people are usually arrogant. A confident leader or manager believes in themselves and are self-assured. People are drawn to this aura of self-confidence they exude, like bugs to a windshield. During difficult and stressful times they convey a sense of tranquility and do stay on track once they commit to a course of action and they do not hide behind their authority. The narcissistic antagonist believes he can control people. He never admits when he is wrong and revels in the blunders of others.

“Confidence is going after Moby Dick in a rowboat and taking the tartar sauce with you.” ~ Zig Ziglar

communication-02-managerThey are able to sell ice to an eskimo – they communicate very effectively

A Manager is able to exhibit authority and reliability before persuading the audience with words. They are able to address the values, needs and desires of any audience. Employees also respond better to a boss who is not belittling and speaks to them on their level, whether it be age, status or position. Employees see you as a peer and they are more open to the message you are trying to convey.

Employers have hearts

Many employees believe that a manager is comparable to the Tin-man from Wizard of Oz, cold and heartless, with an empty chest, and not even considering a quest via the Yellow Brick Road to look for a heart. However not all managers are like that and the really good ones do have the ability to show empathetic emotions. They can have empathy with an employee experiencing some of life’s curveballs. Empathy is positively related to job performance. Managers who show more empathy towards employees reporting directly to them receive better performance reviews at the end of the year from their bosses. They can identify behaviors and improve situations by showing empathy and making a difference, building and maintaining organizations.

i love my job-02Go getters

A highly effective manager tends to focus on the bigger picture and he sticks it out from start to finish. They have big dreams and aspirations. Goals to them are not just something to tick off a bucket list. They are truly passionate about what they do and enjoy the process of achieving their goals. When they fail they get up and learn from their mistakes because they see failure as the best form of feedback. Go getters are disciplined and hardly ever take a day off as they see this as a waste of time, they get up every morning, ready to get their hands dirty.

They are like good underwear, supportive

helping-02Great leaders are never too busy to take some time to understand the personalities of the people who make up the bulk of their company. I know of a CEO in the Pharmaceutical industry who would come into the office at 7AM in the morning and only get to his office at 12 PM because he would visit every cubicle saying hello or having a chat with all his employees. This annoyed his secretary because she had to reschedule appointments with shareholders on a daily basis. When she looked for him, she would eventually find him in the staff canteen having lunch with the lunch lady and janitors.  She ended up in hospital with a hernia.

The point is, he was genuinely concerned for the health and welfare of all his employees.  They guide their people through challenges, always on the lookout for solutions to foster long-term success. When you can assist an employee, whether he’s the janitor or your right hand, you’re being supportive of both your employee and your organization. Make your team feel invested in the accomplishments of the company. The way you treat your staff is a good indication on how they will treat your customers, internally and externally. Period.

They are always optimistic

The type of manager you are will have a direct influence on the well-being of your employees and their involvement in a team setup, which in turn can have an influence on the overall organizational performance. Personal problems should be left outside the office, and if you are the manager who always gets out of bed on the wrong foot, your team will pick up on your mood and the whole atmosphere in the office will be tense most of the time. Everyone will be in a state of nerves because you look like a Doberman ready to attack. This can and will have a negative impact on productivity. However, if you are a walking Duracell bunny energizing people and making work enjoyable for you and your team, things will get done and work will seem fun. Positive leadership correlated with employee optimism, engagement, and project performance.

Honesty is the best policy

Honesty is the most important trait employees look for in a manager. They want a leader they can look up to, someone who will always be open and honest, not afraid to admit when he or she has made a mistake. Great leaders respect themselves and take others’ feelings into consideration. They inspire through their words and actions therefore earning respect by proving their credibility, morality and integrity, and earning followers rather than having employees.

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