Get to Know the Human Being

In a recent homework assignment. a new supervisor examined the issue of motivating employees to improve accuracy, take on more responsibility and work with less supervision. The supervisor's approach was to "evaluate staff regarding job knowledge," and "research motivators for each staff member." Good things to do of course, but much too formal from my perspective.

I advised the new supervisor to also get to know each individual employee as a human being. Practice MBWA (management by walking around), socializing with them and getting to know them well as a boss and as a friend. When we take the time to know someone as an individual human being; when we get to know their personality traits, attitudes, values, standards, approach to work and so forth; when we get to know someone as a colleague and a friend; the formalities of evaluating their motivation (interests and needs) becomes far easier to do and we tend to be able to perform those evaluations with far more accuracy.

About me: Dan Pelley teaches Managing People, a 16-hour program concerned with the topics of motivating people, developing positive attitudes, being more effective in getting the best out of each unique employee, and handling people problems. The program is offered to companies as an on-site program, and it is also offered on an open enrollment basis in Danielson, CT and Lincoln, RI.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
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