Looking at our 2014 data here's a countdown of

the top 10 management behaviours:

(10)        Having a clear view of where the business is going and how to get
there
(9)         Being competent at running the business
  
Nothing builds trust more in leadership than a sense that leaders know where the
business is going and how to get there. The majority of employees from the top 10
Best Workplaces believe their management is competent and trust their ability to
lead the organisation. They also understand and support the organisation’s goals
and their role in helping to achieve them 

‘The management structure is sound and uses common sense in

decision-making and the running of the business. This sounds obvious
but there have been many businesses where I have been employed
where this just isn’t the cases. My place of employment understands
the logic of looking after their employees who, in turn, look after their
clients, creatng a cycle of efficiency and above-and-beyond
satisfaction.’

(8)          Showing appreciation for good work and extra effort

(7)          Showing sincere interest in employees as people

Managers who truly identify with their employees as people and pay them the
attention they need to feel appreciated often have a big hand in empowering and
engaging them. Similarly, good people managers understand how important it is to
acknowledge individual work and effort, from a sincere ‘thank you’ to more
official public stamps of recognition. 94% of employees in the top workplaces feel
that management shows a sincere interest in them as people rather than just as
employees.

‘No matter how small the achievement managers make sure it is

recognised across the business. Senior managers take the time to
personally congratulate individuals which does great for self-esteem
and makes it a very positive working environment.’

(6)          Genuinely seeking out and responding to employees’ suggestions and

ideas
(5)          Involving people in decisions that affect them

Communication can often be reduced to a top-down relaying of information. Good

management knows communication needs to be a fluid, two-way process which
actively seeks employees’ input. Over 90% of employees in the top Best
Workplaces feel included in decisions that affect them and their jobs. They also say
that management listens and responds to their suggestions and ideas which shows
their management trusts them and respects them as equals.

‘As a management team we ensure that we discuss every employee each

month covering what they're doing, whether they need support,
recognising their achievements and looking at how future roles can be
matched with their development needs and career aspirations.’

(4)          Hiring people who fit in well

(3)         Assigning and co-ordinating people well

Most employees at the top 10 workplaces trust management’s ability to oversee

and direct workload efficiently; this also helps people achieve a better work/life
balance. And most agree that management is good at recruiting new talent showing
they have a good understanding of the business’ needs and cultural fit. 

‘Management goes out of its way to make working here an experience

and to make sure you fit in.’

(2)          Actions matching words 

(1)         Keeping promises or commitments

But top of the list by far is managers doing what they said they would and ‘walking
the talk’. The culture of a workplace is shaped by the day-to-day behaviours of
management. Employees value leaders that consistently ‘walk the talk’ but often
the values which are advocated by management are not the ones which people see
around them. It is those values which actually create the culture. By not ‘walking
the talk’ managers can unintentionally create a culture the organisation would
actually want to avoid. 

The importance of managers keeping their promises and ‘walking the talk’ cannot
be underestimated; there’s a gap of 61 percentage points between the top 10 high
and bottom 10 low performing organisations in how managers deliver on these key
behaviours.

‘Management always back me up to the hilt. For example, when I

requested some expensive equipment to provide a better service, I got
exactly what I asked for, no questions asked.’

Trust is ultimately a key factor in business success. Good managers make it an

integral part of their culture and reinforce it by what they say and do and how they
do it. The benefits, as the Best Workplaces will testify, are worth it.

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