Investing in People

The best managers know they need to continuously devote significant time to those they supervise, that positive interactions between managers and line staff are critical to business success. Yet, a study found that as many as 64% of workers say they would trust a robot over their manager. Ouch!  

People problems and work conflicts are among the most challenging aspects of being a supervisor, but successfully managing these situations is an important aspect of leadership effectiveness. The power and beauty of the leadership role is turning these kinds of challenges into positive opportunities that develop human potential and increase business success.

Aboubacar “Tondi” Mahaman, one of my colleagues when I worked in Africa, observed:  “People in power need to be aware of how little positive feedback it takes to create a safe and enabling working environment where staff are motivated and committed.“ This requires constant self-reflection and attention to observe and understand what is going on in your team.

The right combination of feedback and encouragement can make a big difference in both the lives of those you work with and the bottom line. Sadly, many people are promoted into leadership roles without the training or support needed to navigate these workplace challenges. The result, too often, are suboptimal workplaces with unhappy employees, high turnover, and low productivity.

You can read Dr. Teschner’s full article on this topic in the March 26, 2020, NH Business Review https://www.nhbr.com/developing-employee-potential/

As a leader, you have an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. Don’t underestimate your impact!