Across all industries and organizational structures, all employees have certain expectations for their workplace and those who lead them. As a leader, what can you do guarantee that you meet the expectations of your people?
Maintain a workplace of positivity and mutual respect
All employees deserve a respectful working environment that is free of harassment. Managers are regarded as standards of acceptable behavior. As a role model, act with authenticity and integrity so that others will follow you with respect and in turn, treat one another with respect.
Observe your tone and choose your words. Be tactful and diplomatic. Encourage open communication by creating an environment that is inclusive. Foster camaraderie so that everyone feels a strong sense of community.
Well-defined roles with clear expectations through proper orientation
To avoid any miscommunication and loss of trust, ensure that your employees are presented with well-defined job profiles that describe their roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Any adjustments and variations to their role should be discussed first. Never assume that your employee will be willing to do more than what was originally agreed. They may feel taken advantage of and lose trust in the organization.
Any questions regarding their role and responsibilities should be covered in the orientation which is why is essential for you to properly orient all new hires. Orientation is the opportunity for both supervisor and employee to exchange what it is expected of each other.
Monitoring, coaching, and performance improvement
Monitoring your employee doesn’t mean you don’t trust them; it actually shows that you are eager to see them succeed. Allow your subordinates to recognize that when you check in on them from time to time, you are giving them an opening to discuss any concerns or roadblocks. Take these opportunities to coach your people and offer support.
Beyond assigning tasks, your employees look to you for guidance. As their supervisor, they expect to learn from you through coaching and mentorship. They rely on your seniority, skills, and wisdom to put them on the right path of professional growth and development.
As their supervisor, it is also demanded of you to develop and implement a plan that will result in the improved performance of your employee. This could be performance related to skills or affected by behavior.
Conflict resolution and corrective actions
All employees need to feel that beyond being in a respectful workplace, they are in a fair and safe environment. As a leader, it is your responsibility to provide your people with a sense of security that in the event of a dispute or conflict, it will be dealt with fairly and without favoritism towards seniority or level of skill.
While it is ideal that conflicts are dealt with amongst the parties involved for their own personal growth, there may come a time when you will need to intervene. And when it does, follow the well-designed process that your organization should have in place for conflict resolution.
Corrective actions should prove to all employees that the conflict resolution process and its punishments apply to everyone.
Everything you do as a supervisor should be centered on creating a working environment that is positive, safe, collaborative, and fair. For your employees to meet your expectations, you should respect them enough to meet theirs.
I would love to hear your thoughts. If you found value in this article or want to learn more, let’s jump on a call to discuss some strategic leadership concepts. You can use this link to schedule a time convenient to you for us to chat: https://meetme.so/GregNichvalodoff I look forward to furthering our connection and learning more about you and your business.
