How To Engage Managers As Your Productivity Multipliers
What makes some managers able to command loyalty, attention and respect from their line employees while others are deemed morale killers?
The reality is that motivating human beings is a complex issue, and cannot be explained away as a function of one’s personality or charisma. However, two things that come close to explaining this phenomenon is mindset and what Daniel Pink calls drive: the intrinsic motivation of why people do what they do.
These two dispositional view are at the heart of why some are great at leading others while others just suck at it. According to Carol Dweck, there are two main mindsets we can navigate life with: growth and fixed. Those with growth mindset enjoy learning new things and taking on new challenges. While those with fixed mindset belief they were born that way, and thus cannot improve. Simply put, they avoid challenges.
Mindsets
Mindsets are like light or darkness. You either have one or the other but cannot have both. Equally as importance for leaders is the approach by which they motivate others. Some leaders/managers believe people are capable of solving the most complex problems if challenged to. While others see those they lead as lacking in skill to do or move forward without them.
Your Managerial Approach Matters
As a manager, how engaged are your employees? Are you open to their suggestions? Do you coach them through challenges or do you tell them what to do?
Gullup research found that, “Companies have wasted time, energy, and resources hiring the wrong managers and then attempting to train them to be who they’re not. Nothing fixes the wrong pick.”
It said that, “People don’t leave companies they leave bad bosses. So, if you want to hire, retain and grow your people for best output: productivity, performance and profitability then consider being their coach. Lead by encouraging and coaching them to bring their best abilities forward.
The Multipliers
A study by Liz Wiseman, the author of Multipliers: How the best leaders make everyone smarter, makes a compelling case that seem to integrates these two dispositional view: mindset and motivation. She adds that leaders who use their native intelligence in a way that invites everyone else to play big is what today’s workforce needs. If your managers are not quite there yet, consider investing in managers coaching skills. According to McKinsey, “Coaching is the heart of managing performance.”
She adds, “The multiplier bring the right people together in an environment that unleashes their best thinking—and then stay out of the way.” (gives them autonomy). She refers to these individuals as Multipliers while those that micromanage, usurp the energy of others and hoard resources as diminishes.”
To illustrate this point, she has a framework that captures the idea.
Based on the summary above, it is clear that leaders/managers who develop their teams to become multipliers; lead not only in boosting engagement, but also in creating better quality outcomes/profits, performance and productivity in the long run.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, when you invite people’s best thinking and lead like a multiplier, or train your team to become multipliers; your team will give you more—more discretionary effort, more mental and physical energy, more of their fellow network joining your team as they become your recruiting machine, and more of their creative ideas critical for innovations and driving your business to long-term success.
Have you ever worked for a Multiplier or a Diminisher? How did that experience influence your decision and overall outcomes. Share you thoughts in the comment below. Otherwise, if you’re a first time manager who is overwhelmed and need help navigating your new role while maintaining a healthy life balance, I would love to help. Feel free to schedule your 30 minutes complimentary session or send a note to carolyne@vpfstrategies.com. Thanks!
Carolyne helps professional and organizational brands gain clarity for better results—increase productivity, performance and profitability. She is a speaker, the author of Being Grounded: 21 Days To Come Alive and Love Your Life, and a contributing writer for various publications.