What Do You Expect From A Manager?

[Judy McLeish]

Question - If I hired you, what is the number one thing you would expect from me as your manager?

[Mike King]

To meet regularly and give me regular feedback to improve so that I clearly know your expectations.

[Terrence Seamon]

Good question, Judy!

Recently, David Zinger published a homorous entry on ways to fail as a manager, which could answer your question.

To weigh in with my 2 cents, you asked: "If I hired you, what is the number one thing you would expect from me as your manager?"

My answer: Let me do what you hired me to do.

Terry

[Judy McLeish]

Terry - great reply. Far too often managers fail to let their people do what they were hired to do. They micromanage their every movement demotivating them in the process.

[Terrence Seamon]

Thanks, Judy.

In reflecting on my terse answer, I think it needs some expansion.

I would expect my manager to do the following, which rolled up would equate to "Letting me do what you hired me to do."

- Communicate and clarify expectations (as Mike points out)
- Provide me with the "tools" I need (e.g. phone, computer, blackberry, etc)
- Provide the support I need organizationally
- Give me feedback so I know how I'm doing
- Give me professional space so I can explore, learn, grow

One more that is especially important to me (and I would think to most other people):

- Treat me as a human being who has a life, a family, and a dream for my future

Terry