Managers, Tell Your Employees How You Like to Work

November 09, 2017

Managers, Tell Your Employees How You Like to Work

There’s typically an adjustment period when managers take over a team, as they and their direct reports learn how best to work together. Accelerate this learning process — and keep your team from having to guess your management style — by creating and sharing a work-style table. In the left column, add your characteristics and behaviors. For example, “I raise tough issues up front and directly” or “I’m not a morning person.” In the right column, add suggestions for how others can work with your preferences. For example, alongside “I raise tough issues,” you could write “If you feel my response is blunt or direct, realize that it’s about the issue, not about you personally.” And next to the “morning person” entry, you could write, “Avoid scheduling meetings where I have to make a big decision before 10:00 AM.” Being open about your management-style preferences can mitigate misunderstandings and help your team work together more productively.

Adapted from “Do You Know How Each Person on Your Team Likes to Work?” by Sabina Nawaz