Improving The Relationship Between The Manager And Employees.

 

There are a wide array of factors that influence an employee joining an organization, including the employer brand, nature of work, role and responsibilities, leadership career growth, job security, and infrastructure. However, one critical factor that should be taken in to account is ‘managers and their relationship with employees’. While managers and employees are better off as colleagues than friends, it’s still important to develop strong relationships between the two sides.

For the organization to perform better it is important that the employees are comfortable with each other, share a good rapport and work in close coordination towards a common objective. People feel responsible and motivated to do good work and enjoy their work rather than taking it as a burden. Having a bad manager can be extremely stressful for employees and can negatively affect their overall well-being. On the other hand, good managers can dramatically improve employees’ well-being and performance by providing them a secure environment where they feel motivated and comfortable. Today’s employees want to find a sense of understanding, belonging, and well-being at work—and managers are positioned to help establish that sense of belonging through robust communication, live contact, visibility, and strong relationships. It is important that the management promotes healthy employee relations at workplace to extract the best out of each individual. Competition is essential but it should not promote negativity or any kind of enmity among the employees.

So, what can HR professionals do in order to help stop the perceptions that bosses are hurting employee careers and promote a more positive interaction? What can you do to improve manager relationships with employees?

 

• Direct Involvement with employees: Every employee needs to have a direct relationship with a manager, someone who can address their questions and concerns and someone who can recognize them for a job well done. HR leaders can educate managers to understand that their interactions with an employee can have a major impact on that employee’s feelings of well-being.

• Recognize and value individual’s work: Part of a successful employer-employee relationship is regular recognition and explanation of the employee’s role. By communicating the value of an employee’s work, managers help that employee better understand where the work he or she does fits into the big picture. When employees understand the impact their efforts have on business success, it helps them develop a sense of ownership in the company’s mission.

• Set an example: Team members look to their managers to determine the best ways to communicate with them. Effective leaders set the example for how best to communicate with those who directly report to them, conduct reports, and deliver recognition.

• Remain extremely accessible: As growing numbers of employees work virtually and remotely, in far-flung offices, or in large enterprises, it’s easy for them to feel disconnected from company leadership. It has been observed that poor communication leads to confusions and misunderstandings. The communication has to be precise and relevant. One should not play with words and be very specific about his expectations from his fellow workers as well as the organization. If the manager is not very happy with his colleague’s proposal, he should not keep things to himself. He should voice the opinion and do express his displeasure. It will definitely prevent a conflict among employees later and improve the relations among them. Be straightforward. Effective leaders must make an extra effort to be extremely accessible. That accessibility may look different for each leader, but it could include instant messaging, weekly team meetings, or a regular drop-in at each employee’s workspace.
  
  
• Establish positive working relationship: From the day they start at your organization, new hires need a positive working relationship with a friendly, caring manager. From day one, the ground-level manager can set the pace for a new hire’s success better than anyone else in the business.

• Morning meeting is another effective way to improve the relation among the employees. Let everyone come together on a common platform and discuss whatever issues they have. The meetings must not be too formal. Allow the team members to bring their cups of coffee. Manager should start the day with a positive mind and greet everyone with a warm smile. Exchange greetings and compliments. If any of the team member is not in a pleasant mood, do take the initiative and ask what is wrong with him. Manager should try his best to to provide him a solution.

• Leveraging on technology and digital experiences to enhance connectivity: In this technology-rich age, there are multiple ways to stay in touch with employees. Managers can use tools such as instant messaging, video conferencing, and mobile collaboration apps to stay connected.

 

Various researches have shown that, when managers and leaders take these steps, employees become more deeply engaged in their work. Organizations should also proactively encourage their managers to develop great working relationships with their employees and should make provisions for requisite training programs. By focusing on their development plans and coaching skills, organizations can groom their managers to forge a strong relationship with employees. When leaders nurture and invest in their employees, the return on investment will benefit in ways that money cannot buy; engaged employees are not only more likely to stick around for the long term, they’re also more likely to be more productive and effective.

References

US | Glassdoor for Employers.( 2020). Strategies To Improve Manager And Employee Relationships. Strategies To Improve Manager And Employee Relationships. [online] Available at: https://www.glassdoor.com/employers/blog/5-ways-hr-can-boost-recruiting-by-improving-employeeboss-relations/

[Accessed 10 July 2020].

 

Peoplemattersglobal.com. (2020). People Matters - Interstitial Site - People Matters. [online] Available at: https://www.peoplemattersglobal.com/article/leadership/6-ways-to-strengthen-employee-manager-relationship-16178

[Accessed 10 July 2020].

 

Managementstudyguide.com. (2020). Strategies To Improve Employee Relations. [online] Available at: https://www.managementstudyguide.com/strategies-to-improve-employee-relations.htm

[Accessed 10 July 2020].