The Nurturing Boss

10/06/2009

Hope is a risk that must be run.
Georges Bernanos in "Why Freedom?"

In "Don't be a Cat-and-Mouse Manager," in the Gallup Management Journal, Kenneth Tucker and Vandana Allman talk about how businesses often look the other way when managers oppress, threaten, and coerce employees. Here is their reaction...

"Well, such abusive behavior should matter to businesses. When a manager and employees are in an antagonistic 'cat and mouse' relationship, employees suffer — and so does the organization. In fact, The Gallup Organization's research with millions of employees and tens of thousands of managers reveals this simple truth: Employees perform better for managers who care about them.

"The problem is, most organizations don't focus on measuring 'intangibles,' such as nurturing relationships between managers and employees. Companies use elaborate methods to track inventory, products, and sales. Most keep records of employee attendance, earnings per employee, and net profit. But few organizations measure something as 'soft' as caring — yet Gallup research reveals that caring relationships between managers and employees directly affect an organization's employee retention, productivity, profitability, safety, and customer service metrics.

"Simply put, the best organizations build caring work environments. They do this by encouraging managers to develop strong, nurturing relationships with their employees. In fact, Gallup's research reveals that many of the most successful managers boast of being 'very close to their employees.'"

A Tool Kit for Managers

Exchange has packaged six of its practical management resources into a single “Manager’s Tool Kit” and is offering the entire set at a 33% discount — separately these resources would cost $175, but we are offering the entire Manager’s Tool Kit for only $112. Resources in the kit include:

The Art of Leadership: Managing Early Childhood Organizations
Managing Money: A Center Director’s Guidebook
Beginnings Workshops Book #8 - Professionalism
250 Management Success Stories from Child Care Directors
Developing Capable, Creative Teachers CD Book
Leading People in Early Childhood Settings CD Book

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For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.