Managers & Employees

I have wondered what goes through an employee's mind when they get a phone call from their manager, when they are not in the office. Are they eager to pick the call or do they wonder "what the hell does the id**t want now?". The same probably holds good when the manager stops by the employee's desk or calls them into their office.

I quizzed a dozen people managers on the interactions they have had with their employees lastweek (the last 5 days). Everyone said that they spoke with their most of their employees a few times during the week. The nature of the conversations were all very work specific - what is happening with customer A's issue? What is the status of Project X? Have you received the payment from Customer B? Did you meet with C? etc. I asked them if they spoke with them on anything that wasn't a status update or specific work query? Yes, we spoke the weather, a new restaurant which has opened, the new movie that was released etc.

The purpose of each of those conversations with the employee was to enquire about the status of a work activity. Everything else was meaningless chit-chat. The employee knows why the manager was really talking to him/her and the manager is also pretty clear about the purpose of the conversation. If this is the case, why are we even surprised if an employee does not really look forward to a call from his/her manager.

If an employee receives a call from their manager and the purpose of the manager's call is to inform the employee that he will be getting a spot reward for a specific activity he did last month, or if the purpose is to just say "Thanks" for something the employee has done, would'nt the employee's attitude towards the manager change over a period of time. Would'nt these simple acts on a consistent basis transform the Manager-Employee relationship over a period of time?

What can the HR organization do to support this? Create a easy to use Recognition program that incorporates no cost "Thank You" Cards, low value spot awards, which can be used by a manager at his/her own discretion.