Page 60 - Becoming a Successful Manager

Clarifying What You and Your Employees Have in Common 51

cism (see Chapter 11 on constructive criticism). Assure them that
their responses will not detrimentally affect them or your treat-
ment of them in the workplace.
Seriously evaluate the information and comments that your
employees give you, with the knowledge that how effectively you
motivate and manage people determines your managerial success.

To fully benefit from what you learn, in your manager’s journal make
note of all of the expectations and desires that were expressed. You
may fi nd comments that occur repeatedly, in one way or another,
from various people; pay particular attention to these. Next,

determine specific ways in which you can fulfi ll these desires and
expectations. Then record specific actions and solutions for future

reference. It is important to note that all information is good infor-
mation. It either tells you something about you or about the person
who provided it. If the desires are unrealistic, it might encourage
you to be clearer about what they can expect. That will help them
true up their expectations with what they are experiencing.
Taking a proactive stance in improving your managerial capa-

bilities will prove beneficial to your success as a manager and to
the success of your department as a whole, no matter where the
staff members are located.

Questions to Consider

• What do my employees expect from me? How do I plan to fulfi ll
and measure their reasonable expectations?

• What desires do my employees have of me? How do I plan to

fulfill and measure those that are reasonable?
continued