Understanding your manager
Featured in the Partnerships at Work training manual
By Ken Birkett & Val Rowland
Category: Performance Management
Credit price: 3 download credits (Single user)
Everyone expects a leader to lead! At work we believe that a boss is paid to utilise human resources and produce appropriate results. It is assumed they will do this in a manner that draws on people’s talents, whilst at the same time recognising their rights as human beings. In doing all this we may each expect our manager to understand the fundamentals of our job and, further, to have a good insight into our way of working, as well as our personal characteristics. Quite a bit of expectation there! But not unreasonable? Looking at it from the boss’s point of view, what might they hope for from us? An understanding – a rapport – like all other forms of communication is a two-way system. For subordinates, developing rapport might mean: understanding the pressures on the boss; recognising the support received from the boss; and accepting the boss as a colleague. Conversely, the manager interested in developing a closer bond will make time to explain not only decisions and actions but also their reasons, and take steps to be approachable. Most people, no matter what their status, feel a need to be understood as a person. Subordinates should recognise that the boss is no exception. Closer bonds in both directions lead to stronger teams.
This training activity begins with a brief introduction to the topic of understanding your manager. Participants work in small groups considering how a boss might view their team members and how they might view the boss. There is a feedback discussion on how a better understanding might be achieved. Participants work alone on a private and personal questionnaire to develop a personal frame of reference for the following discussion. There is a feedback discussion on our perceptions of a boss. Finally, there is a round-up session.
Who is it for: This training activity is intended for use by trainers to help those in a subordinate role to understand their boss and for bosses to understand their subordinates.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 6 |
| Max Group Size: | 12 |
| Typical Duration: | 01:30:00 |
| No of Pages: | 17 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Purpose: This training activity is intended for use in team building, leadership, personal development and communication training.
Download the training activity, Understanding your manager as featured in the Fenman training manual; Partnerships at Work