By John Lacey
This two-part series on management essentials tackles important questions about culture, motivation, recognition and trust in hopes of providing honest insight and tangible tips to help managers create productive and rewarding work environments.
Part 2 of “Becoming a Better Boss” gives a voice to the employee perspective and summarizes interviews conducted with eight employees from across the UT System
The “Big Question”
What do employees want from management?
When it comes to managing people, leaders need to be fair, honest, flexible and exhibit integrity. Gone is the old-fashioned philosophy that employees should work hard so their managers can be successful. Employees should be recognized for what they are—the organization’s most valuable assets. Managers need to stand with employees and place a greater emphasis on their success. And most importantly, managers must be human—allow for mistakes, create an open and honest atmosphere and develop relationships and trust.
“I like a manager to have a sense of humor combined with a winning attitude. Those two key elements, in any individual, speak volumes.”
– CHARMAGYNE AKRAM
- Senior Administrative Services Assistant, College of Medicine Admissions, UT Health Science Center
- 25 years at UT
Build a Team
When it comes to collaboration, managers need to listen and share information required to make good decisions. Isolating employees from the decision process leads to limited effectiveness and wasted time.
According to Bonnie Daniel from UT Martin, a coaching approach to supervision works well. Connect with your team. Understand where they are in their individual development. Deliver clear and useful information to help team members be successful. It’s also important to explain the team’s goals and how each member can contribute.
“A great boss is someone who educates and mentors people. A great boss will have built a cohesive team that needs very little ‘management’.”
–KELLIE KARAKY
- IT Technologist, Walker Center for Teaching and Learning, UT Chattanooga
- 7 years at UT
Motivate and Recognize
In an open and honest work environment, sharing constructive feedback and seeing others challenging themselves or taking on new responsibilities is rewarding. Managers can set the tone by giving employees the opportunity to take some risks, even if the chance of failure is high. At the end of the day, managers need to recognize the efforts of their employees—win or lose. This can be something as simple as saying “job well done” or a more public display of appreciation. The empowerment and recognition formula is the magic that allows for dynamic teams to develop and grow.
“Praise, recognition, compliments and special opportunities are great motivators.”
-ERIC GOMETZ
- Senior Electrician, Construction and Design, UT Knoxville
- 7 years at UT
