I expect my manager to be…

Clear, respectful, and supportive

• I expect to be treated like an adult and not a child
• I expect my manager to have “candor, humility, and trust”
• I expect my manager to be direct and straight with me
  • Don’t beat around the bush
• I expect to be autonomous (“Drive” by Daniel H. Pink)
  • Don’t micromanage me (Theory Y)
• I expect my manager to prioritize the team first, and me second
  • Show empathy
  • Help me succeed
    • E.g., identify and provide me with opportunities to grow

“Kind” rather than “nice”

• I don’t want my manager to be a “people-pleaser”
• I expect difficult conversations
  • Constructive conflict is expected and should not be avoided
  • Issues should be confronted immediately
  • I want to be told what I need to hear rather than what I want to hear
    • E.g., why I can’t be promoted, feedback on my blunders, etc.

My “boss” rather than my “friend”

• I expect the relationship to be “professional”
  • A line must be drawn
  • Conflicts of interest must be minimized
• I expect my manager to do what’s best for the team
• I expect my manager to hold me accountable

Decisive

• In a scenario where there are multiple opinions, I expect my manager to be the tie-breaker
• I expect my manager to align the team and create clarity
• I expect my manager to remove blockers and move things forward

Do you agree or disagree with my expectations? What expectations do you have?