In the NHS managers often get a bad press. Whenever I am training people from a clinical background, they are often at the start very critical of managers.
Sometimes this simply comes down to a lack of understanding of the role or perhaps just going along with what everyone else says about managers.
Yet what I have noticed is that clinicians are often very clear about what they look for in managers.
So what are some of the common things that come up time and time again?
Someone Who Understands Their Perspective
One of the most common complaints is that managers don’t understand the clinicians’ perspective on things. Worse still they are not interested in understanding their perspectives.
Someone Who Listens
I have heard clinicians come up with some really great ideas to tackle problems. Often these ideas go nowhere because their managers don’t want to listen to any ideas and simply come back with a list of stock reasons why they can’t be done.
Someone Who Treats Them Well
Clinical staff are smart individuals and pretty driven too. When managers treat them well, they respond positively and go that extra mile. In that respect they are no different to anyone else. In my experience if you treat people well you get that back in bucket loads when it comes to commitment.
Someone Who Supports Them
People respond to a supportive manager. That does not mean you need to be a soft touch. At the same time if you can support people, especially in challenging times you are more likely to get their support to make things happen.
Someone Who Is Self Confident
Now let’s be clear. We are not talking about being a know it all. Self confident managers have that quiet inner belief. As a result they are more likely to make the decisions that need to be made rather than procrastinate.
Someone Who Makes Things Happen
Talk fills time. Decisions lead to action. Action leads to a result and feedback. Will managers get it right all of the time? Absolutely not. By the same token doing nothing achieves nothing.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, some simple changes can often make a big difference to the results that are achieved. So what in your view makes a good manager?
Duncan Brodie helps professionals to become effective managers and leaders. Learn more here.