by PN Schiavone

Created on: October 03, 2008   Last Updated: February 24, 2009

You do not need your employees to like you when you manage a team. This does not mean that they have to think you are a real jerk either. Here are a few attributes that good managers have. First and foremost your employees need to trust you. Second, a manger needs to service the needs of the employees. Third, show the employees that you can walk your talk. Fourth, a manager needs to show genuine appreciation for what accomplishments the employees make. Lastly, every successful manager knows that without good people you will not succeed.

Sucessful managers have the trust of their emplyees. You can gain employee trust by being trustworthy. Do what you say and say what you do. A manager needs to be consistent with this communication in order to get the employees trust. Every employee should know where the line in the sand is. All employees should know that if they have a personal problem at home, they can talk the boss and it will handled without all in the company finding out. When an employee does a good job, that should be communicated up the chain of command. When they perform poorly, this should be taken care of in private. Good managers document the good as well as the bad.

A bright manager ensures that the employees have all the tools they need to get the job done. This does not always make the manager popular with his superiors. Last year my employees needed a new piece of equipment in order to get a new assignment accomplished in a timely manner. My boss did not want to spend the money, but I continued to press the issue until we were given the equipment we needed. My employees appreciated this fact and the equipment paid for itself in 6 months due to their increased productivity. I immediately e-mailed the chain of command, both congratulating my team for their efforts and thanking my forward thinking boss for allowing us the chance for success. Everyone needs to feel they have won.

Managers need to have their employees respect. The best way to achieve this is to always show the employees that you do what you say. My first boss would come in 30 minutes late and look at the time clock and then chew anyone out that was late. Most employees view this as hiprocrittical. I as a manager make sure I follow the rules, just as I expect my employees to do. They may not like the rules, but they know they must be followed by all of them.

Showing the employees appreciation does not mean raises and bonuses all the time. The simple act of saying thank you for a job well done goes a long way. Managers find it hard to tell their employees thank you, after all they were supposed to do their job. I have found that most people like the recognition of a well deserved thanks. I am not opposed though, if the group achieves a certain goal, to get them a nice lunch as a thank you either. Finally the best way to show appreciation to your employees is praise in front of superiors. They will then know that they are being presented in a positive light when they do well.

When employees do a good job, a managers job becomes much easier. If fact my top employee does enough of my work that I can concentrate on other matters that get my department recognition and furthers our regard in the company. I as a manager had to come to grips with the fact that I was nothing special and that my people did all the heavy lifting. My job became easier when I realized the more I could do for my people the more they would do for the company. In turn this is how I have become successful, through the talents and hard work of my employees.

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