3 things managers want from their managers.

One of the ironies of management is that what we think our team wants different things from what we want from our managers.

Here are the top three things we see managers wanting from THEIR managers:

To feel valued for the work we've done.

As a manager yourself you are responsible for so much

• recruiting new members of your team
• onboarding and training your team
• regular 1-2-1's and target setting
• annual budgetting
• managing a P&L

It's a broad range of skills, and if you're really working hard on particular areas how nice is it to hear:

"Well done filling those jobs so quickly"

"Your budgetting this year has been spot on"

"Your team are the best motivated in the company"

It's amazing to feel valued and to have the fact that you go above and beyond be recognised.  

To feel in on things

As a manager you probably have more access to information than you did as a team member.  But even now you probably crave more information about the company strategy, about the plans for the future and how the previous results are being perceived.  

You probably feel that if you had more access to this information then you'd feel more engaged, more like it was 'your' company, and that you'd be able to make better decisions that are aligned with the wider strategy.

Support around your personal life

Whether you are single or married, living with a partner or your parents you have a personal life, and there are other people that you are related to.  Whether you have an ill relative, a big anniversary coming up, or a child's birthday it is so motivating to have some support from your company around these events.  

It says that the company sees you as an adult.  It says you are responsible enough to get your work done when you need to, but you can also support your family when you need to.

Flexibility around your family shows that your company trusts you and helps you become a more engaged manager.

Summary

These are three things that we really want from our own managers, and yet when we look at our own teams we can easily focus on career progression, salaries, and benefits as the main levers to try and motivate.

Spend a moment thinking about what you want from a manager and then about how you might be able to deliver that to your team members.  We're pretty sure they want the same things!