Assumptions S-style managers make
This week, the 2 Minute Tip is covering the unconscious assumptions managers make and how it affects their teams, contributing to The Great Resignation. We have already discussed the Dominant Style and the Influence Style. Today, we’ll discuss things that S-Style managers may be unaware of and their implications.
Managers with S-Style have gentle personalities and are more even-tempered, accommodating, and patient. They don’t want to rock the boat.
If you have a more diplomatic, obliging personality type, here are some assumptions you might be making as a manager:
My job is to keep the team happy.
I should do my best to avoid upsetting or inconveniencing people, being too assertive, and giving critical feedback.
When uncertain, it’s best to do nothing. Slow and steady wins the race.
I shouldn’t push people to improve. Better to just give them what they want.
On teams with S-Style managers, problematic behavior gets swept under the rug. There’s no sense of urgency or feedback for growth. And things rarely happen quickly, or with a sense of urgency.
S-Style managers can grow by starting to appreciate that sometimes they’ll actually have to invite tension and instability into their world. By understanding other perspectives, they see that not everyone shares their need for harmony and that the long-term well-being of their team often depends on allowing a little short-term messiness, urgency, or direct feedback.
