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What makes a great manager?
Ryan Walker
February 21, 2024
Hello hiring machines!
Welcome back to the SportsGrad Talent Newsletter, your bite-sized guide to attract and retain elite operators.
Every fortnight, we share insights from our community to help you hire better candidates who stick around for longer.
This week the SportsGrad Community told us about:
Having a manager you don’t feel comfortable around can derail your whole experience at work. When you feel like you can’t speak openly and honestly with them, when they don’t trust you to take on tasks on your own and when you feel disconnected, you’re likely heading straight for the door or feeling completely disenchanted at work. Here’s some ways managers can be great to avoid staff turnover.
1. Approachable
Full-Time, 2y exp - “A relaxed and calm demeanour. It makes it so much easier to go to them with bad news or if I’m struggling with something”
2. They have my back
Full-Time, 3y exp - “Having my back when I need it. When other departments come asking for things. It is so much easier to pushback when I know my manager has my back”
Full-Time, Short Term Contract - "It’s also always nice to know you’ve got a manager in your corner who understands that although this might be your livelihood - work isn’t the be all and end all. Of course there’s a fine line of professionalism that needs to be maintained but a manager should be open and receptive enough to take into account an employee’s wellbeing and vice versa”
Full-Time, Short Term Contract - “There's two managers who aren't my direct managers, however, I love working with them because they lead by example, drop everything and comes to assist the team when the team needs urgent assistance, not just doing their responsibilities. They jump in and do the bottom of the chain job when it is busy or things are not going right, they think about their staff eg. If there's leftovers from an event, they will make sure that everyone working on the event gets food. They also are able to see potential in their coworkers who aren’t working under them”
3. Regular check-ins
Full-Time, 3y exp - “My manager at my current job is probably the best manager I have had. Constant 1:1 check-ins bi-weekly, very considerate on mental health, prioritises a good balance between work and life. Super good with having very open conversations about personal life and if I need any support with anything”
Full-Time, recently hired - “Specific to the sport industry where many people start with fixed-term/seasonal/casual contracts, having a manager who offers feedback proactively can mutually benefit them and the employee.
During my time as a casual with a NSO & a community sport organisation, I sought out feedback myself every 3-4 months, but I believe young professionals, fresh out of a uni, may initially feel nervous in seeking feedback. If a manager can help them feel at ease by taking the first step, it can build confidence in them
4. Takes the time to get to know me
Full-Time, 15y exp -”Someone who is committed to getting the best out of the people they manage - can both encourage, support and equip, and are also willing to make difficult decisions (including holding people accountable) when necessary”
Casual & contract roles - “Someone who takes the time and effort to understand the individual and their role and how they can help them execute their best at said role”
5. Gives clear instructions
Full-Time, business owner - “When they give you clear direction and the space to run with it, without the micro management”
Full-Time, recently hired - “If you have a manager who’s big on task allocation, having instructional videos on how to complete the task THEIR way is very helpful from a great manager as it’s all about clarity in the workplace”
6. Provides me with autonomy
Full-Time, 4y exp- “Current manager is unreal, he gives me the ability to back myself & make decisions on my own and have supported whenever needed”
Full-Time, 2y exp - “A good manager, can open a door and push you in a direction that the business needs. Typically those needs are more applicable to the day-to-day, ensuring the team runs well and is ticking all the boxes, and the bottom line looks good to the Senior Leadership Team”
“I’m fortunate to report to a few managers, and all have different skills. Personally I have found there is a big difference between working under someone who is trying to achieve a specific outcome, usually short-term and monetary based, and someone who is focused on building a supportive and well-rounded team. Shaping the mental 'buy in' from your team leads to employees being invested and excited in achieving the long-term goals of the business”
✍️ Ryan’s Note: Creating instructional videos to give detailed instructions is a great idea and something we use at SportsGrad. Check out Loom as a tool to use for this. We live in a world where we work from home often and having more phone calls than face-to-face meetings, it can be harder to understand exactly what’s required. A quick video can make a big difference.
Keep reading for some more insights into our community and how you can get involved.
Let’s get it!
Ryan Walker 💛
Co-Founder
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