213 - Be approachable as a Manager
Discover how to be a more approachable manager with practical tips on The Daily Hint. Learn why staying connected with your team is crucial as you advance in your career. Tune in for actionable advice on fostering an inclusive work environment.
Be Approachable as a Manager
Welcome to The Daily Hint with Jens Heitland. In today's episode, we delve into a crucial aspect of effective management: being approachable. As you climb the corporate ladder, it's easy to become distanced from your team. This episode highlights the significance of breaking down those barriers and maintaining a human touch in your leadership style.
As you grow as a manager, you might find yourself becoming somewhat removed from the day-to-day realities of your team. This distance can create a perception that you're not as approachable. To counteract this, it’s essential to actively engage with your employees. One simple yet powerful strategy is to take every opportunity to connect on a personal level.
Imagine you're at the coffee machine and notice colleagues nearby. They might be hesitant to initiate a conversation with you, fearing rejection. Take the initiative and ask, "Hey, how are you doing? What are you up to today?" This small gesture can make a big difference. It not only opens the door for communication but also shows your team that you value and care about their daily experiences.
It's easy to overlook these interactions as you rise through the ranks, but making an effort to remain approachable can significantly impact your team's morale and productivity. When leaders are seen as accessible, employees are more likely to share ideas, voice concerns, and feel a stronger connection to the organization.
In summary, being an approachable manager is about making conscious efforts to stay connected with your team. It's about breaking down perceived barriers and fostering an environment where open communication is encouraged. Start by incorporating simple actions like initiating casual conversations, and you'll likely see a positive shift in your team's dynamics.
Tune into The Daily Hint with Jens Heitland to learn more about enhancing your leadership skills and creating a more inclusive workplace.
Highlights:
00:00 The Manager's Dilemma: Growing Apart from Reality
00:11 Becoming Approachable: Simple Steps to Connect
00:21 Practical Example: Engaging at the Coffee Machine
00:39 The Importance of Simple Gestures
00:46 The Higher You Rise, The Further You Drift
00:52 Share Your Experiences
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Subscribe and Listen to The Daily Hint with Jens Heitland Podcast HERE:
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Transcript:
As more you grow as a manager in an organization, you are somehow removed from reality. People are not really seeing you that approachable anymore. So one of the best things you can do is being a normal human being and doing this a little bit over the top, which means you are taking active approaches to people.
Let's give you a simple example. You are at a coffee machine. And there are other people around you, they definitely want to talk to you, but they fear that you will reject them. So turn it around and be the approachable manager by saying, Hey, how are you doing? What are you up to today?
And that sounds so simple. I get it. And you most probably have heard about that, but a lot of people are not doing it. As higher they raise in an organization, as further they are apart from the employees. Let me know in the comments, if you have seen that.