Everyone has a different definition of a well-run business. For some, it’s running a well-oiled ship. For others, it’s producing revenue and growing the team. But there’s one undeniable thing that’s behind every one of these success stories: good management.
It’s your managers that have the most direct influence on your employees. But what do you look for when hiring someone to oversee them. It’s not enough to hire someone with confidence and “leadership potential” – it’s also about finding someone who your team will respond positively to.
Surprisingly, humility is one often-overlooked quality of the best management professionals. Not only are humble managers easier to connect with, the relationships they foster with your employees can result in higher retention and other positive results for your business. Here are just a few reasons why these individuals are so appealing.
They know respect is earned.
Every working professional has dealt with at least one manager who acted as if their position entitled them to their staff’s respect. No one likes working with someone on a high horse, and your employees certainly won’t tolerate that behavior for long.
Humble managers know that respect is something that’s earned, and they put in the time to build trust with their staff. They recognize that it also takes effort to create a high-functioning team – to do this, they take on the role of a “mechanic” to ensure everyone has what they need to perform their jobs and run smoothly.
They’re not afraid to get their hands dirty.
One of the biggest disconnects occurs when managers simply don’t understand their employees’ day-to-day jobs. It’s hard not to feel frustrated when someone with no ground-level knowledge of the business is making decisions that make your job more challenging than it needs to be.
Good managers aren’t afraid to take on grunt work as needed and support their team on the front lines. They step in without complaining and show that they’re not “above” anyone else. Managers who do this are more likely to be viewed as their employees favorably.
They humanize the workplace.
Managers are often afraid to be called out on their mistakes, and combat this by separating themselves from their employees. Often, this mentality stems from the idea that they’ll lose their team’s respect if caught making an error.
In fact, managers who own up to their mistakes and are transparent about errors are more likely to be viewed favorably by their staff. By being honest, employees tend to feel more at ease and are less afraid to make their own mistakes in the workplace.
In the end, we’re all people trying to do the best job we can, and it’s important to ensure that we have room to be ourselves!
Looking to hire a new manager or staff member? HigherMe can help you streamline your hiring process. Connect with us at contact@higherme.com, or visit our Applicant Tracking System page!
