Assignment:
McConnell (2007) speaks to management as having either an upward or downward orientation. It is almost a given that a manager needs to be concerned with what upper management desires; however, the manager leads a group that depend on him/her for guidance and support in a variety of situations. This puts the middle manager in an awkward position and they must make a choice that will ultimately determine their own future. An ambitious manager may wrongly assume that they need to "keep upstairs happy" to the exclusion of their own department's employees. The manager who cannot balance the relationship will create low morale and low productivity, with high turnover.
"The appropriately downward-facing manager is more readily acceptable to the employees as "one of our own," a fully fledged team member for whom they will willingly produce" (McConnell, p. 93).
It is essential that the manager cultivate a personal relationship with each and every employee. How does a busy manager do this effectively?
References: McConnell, C.R. (2007). The Health Care Manager's Human Resources Handbook. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers