Have you ever had a manager that you loved to work for and really appreciated? What about the exact opposite? Here is a collection of comments from staff on what they have found to be ‘The Best Manager’. How many of these qualities does YOUR manager have?
- They do not choose sides When disagreements and challenges arise, they remain impartial and see both sides of the story. Their decisions are made based on the principle, not the staff member who has the issue.
- Zero tolerance for bullyingThe manager understands that this is critical to keeping morale and retention up, and contributes to patient safety. They make it clear to everyone not just in word, but action, that bullying-whether outright or passive-is not tolerated and that those who participate will have consequences.
- Pays attention to what is going on in their unit Difficult to do at times, but the BM keeps an ear and an eye out for what is happening on their unit. Between staff, physicians, and other staff.
- Advocates for their staff on a higher level When hospital or administrative meetings occur, employees know that their manager is speaking up for them and taking their concerns seriously.
- Follows throughWhen a manager states that they are going to do something, they do it. They understand that this is critical to gaining the trust of their staff. Along with #1, they hold all staff accountable for actions.
- Participates with the staff From helping a patient to picking up trash, there is nothing that this manager won’t do. They won’t ask their staff to do something that they would not do themselves. When time is of the essence, and tasks need to be done, they are in the trenches, with sleeves rolled up and ready to go.
- Listens Their door is open, both literally and figuratively. While a manager has many things to oversee and coordinate in the big picture, they understand that their primary concern is making sure that their staff are heard and understood. The last thing they want is for someone to say, whatever you do, don’t bring this up to management.
- Is professional Working with back-biting or bullying staff is hard enough. When a manager participates in these activities, staff experience stress, tension, discord, and mistrust as well as feelings of helplessness. A manager must refrain from these interactions.
- Properly delegates They recognize that they can’t do it all. They provide staff with opportunities to grow and learn, assuming that they could all potentially be in their position someday. They delegate responsibilities to not only share the work, but to allow others the chance to become better.
- Fact-finderA good manager does not buy-in to hearsay. If there are rumors going around, or mumblings about an employee, they are not swayed. They will go to the source and identify for themselves if there is a problem or not.