THE NUGGET
In order to build a rewarding employee experience, you need to understand what matters to your people.
Julie Bevacqua
EAT- IN
Studies have shown that when an employee feels that he is just a number or an instrument of production, or a cog in a machine, he is most likely to be a poor producer. Conversely, when he feels that his boss is genuinely interested in him, his problems, his future, and his well-being, he is more likely to be a high producer.
“Production-centered” managers will normally pay less attention to employees’ complaints and aspirations. The only language they understand is production. They are more likely to be authoritarian, defensive, and arbitrary in manner. Employees are tools of production, and “produce or perish” becomes the work culture. Low production, stress and job dissatisfaction, are usually the consequences.
“Employee-centered” managers will normally treat their employees as human beings. Identify with the employees, physically and psychologically. Decisions are collective and the work atmosphere is more democratic and participative, underscored by “we” feeling.
Drawing conclusions from the above, it is contended that “employee-centered” managers are likely to be in charge of high producing work team. Most organizations encourage this kind of attitude among managers. A typical employee-centered manager sees supervision mainly in terms of achieving the unit’s objectives through carefully managed and motivated people under him.
* Is employee-centered management always the most effective?*
No. It is unsuitable in certain situations. In any work situation, there will be a few people who deserve high-handedness to be productive. A few may not care for teamwork. Some are loners and flourish working alone
This is when the phrase, “know thy subordinates” plays a crucial role in supervisory management. It is the manager’s responsibility to harness his people’s motivational and attitudinal variables for the common good of the organization. As a manager, the answer does not lie in being either “employee-centered” or “production-centered”. The answer lies between the two alternatives, or a combination of both as the situation dictates.
TAKE AWAY
Happy employees lead to happy customers, which leads to more profits
Vanghn Aust
