Connector managers prioritize peer-to-peer coaching and facilitate team learning.
Constant feedback can be counterproductive; connector managers provide targeted and meaningful guidance.
Deep dives
The Importance of Connector Managers
The podcast discusses the concept of connector managers who focus on facilitating peer-to-peer coaching and feedback. These managers prioritize getting to know their employees on a deeper level, understanding their strengths, interests, and goals. They ask targeted questions to uncover employee needs and connect them with the right growth opportunities. Connector managers create open and transparent team environments, allowing team members to develop and learn from each other. They also recognize their own strengths and limitations, and help employees access the right skills and expertise outside of themselves.
The Ineffectiveness of Always-On Managers
The podcast challenges the prevalent notion that always-on managers, who provide constant feedback, are the most effective in today's work environment. The research found that constant feedback can be counterproductive and overwhelming for employees. Instead, connector managers are shown to be more successful. While many organizations favor the always-on approach, the podcast highlights that only about 22% of managers fall into this category. Constant coaching does not significantly improve employee performance, and employees often desire more targeted and meaningful guidance.
Overcoming Challenges in Managerial Roles
The podcast identifies three major challenges in managerial roles: frequent organizational shifts, interdependency of work, and the predictability of work. These challenges require managers to adapt and find effective development strategies. Connector managers excel in navigating these challenges by creating trusting and inclusive team environments, embracing individual differences, and connecting employees to relevant expertise. Organizations should recognize the value and effectiveness of connector managers and promote their development within their managerial ranks.
Some managers are like teachers, sharing their skills and experience with their teams. Others are more like cheerleaders who encourage their direct reports to learn on their own. But the
best managers are “connectors,” says Gartner’s Sari Wilde. Wilde is part of a team at Gartner Research that surveyed 5,000 managers around the world to understand how management style affects the success of a team.
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