“My manager cares for my well-being” – An oft asked question in employee engagement or manager effectiveness surveys.
“What does an employee think of when responding to this question?” asked my troubled friend. His organization had conducted manager effectiveness survey; he had received his manager score card couple of days back. While he scored reasonably well in other areas, his score in this question was particularly low. He genuinely cared for his employees and was unable to reconcile to the low score.
The score clearly indicated a a gap between his intention and behaviors (at least as perceived by his employees)
So, what does an employee expect? What actions, if taken by a manager, would prompt an affirmative response to this question?
If I reflect, as an employee, I would consider following aspects while responding.
Does my manager:
Take time to know me as a person – my likes, dislikes, preferences, anxieties?
Care for me holistically – professional as well as personal?
Support my holistic development, not just for this role
Support me to overcome my weakness
Alert me to possible storms, help me steer the ship well before it hits the iceberg
Stand for me in public, no matter what? Does not push me under the bus
Make me feel valued – thanks and appreciates my work?
Create positive energy by doing small things like wishing a cheerful good morning
It’s a short question, but it encompasses several managerial aspects. It also demands consistent behavior.
What more or different would you like to see in your manager, to affirm that he or she cares for your well-being? Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
At the outset, I would like to thank you for stopping by my Blog.
I believe that there is nothing right or wrong in this world. What’s right in this moment and context may be wrong in another moment and context. This belief has inspired me to name my blog ‘Perspectives’.
Perspectives is a platform for me to share my experiences, thoughts and perspectives on various subjects. You may have a different point of view. I look forward to hearing them, these are the triggers for rich and deep conversations.
On personal front, I live in Mumbai, India. I love to read; Somerset Maugham and Nevil Shute are my favorite authors. My favorite books are The Razor’s Edge, Mrs. Craddock, Chequer Board and Gone with the Wind. I am thankful to my father who inculcated the habit of reading in me early on.
I am also passionate about traveling, I have been to most parts of India and to several countries across the globe.
On professional front, I work in Human Resources function. Over two and half decades, I have worked across multiple industries and cultures. I focus on Leadership Development, Talent Management, Visioning and Culture, Large-scale change, Employee Listening & Engagement, Employee Well-being, Inclusive work culture, HR effectiveness, Behavior and Mind-set shifts through sustained interventions
I currently lead Organization Effectiveness Function for Aditya Birla Group, a $44.3 billion conglomerate with 120000 employees across 35 countries.
I sincerely hope that you will enjoy reading my blog. I look forward to your thoughts and suggestions.
Thank you!
View all posts by Padma Rajeswari Nandi
“My manager cares for my well-being” – An oft asked question in employee engagement or manager effectiveness surveys.
Perspectives 