Does Your Manager Motivate You? (Part II)
You shouldn’t need to be motivated by anyone to do your work. But you can receive motivation from your manager – if he is doing his job well. Good managers do this by intent, others will need your help.
A manager can be a source of motivation if he understands what you need to do your job, what obstacles are in your way, what type of education you need, where you are going with your career, and then helps you obtain what you need.
Give him a hand – If your manager does not seek these answers outright, you’re going to need to tell him and suggest ways to help him get what you need.
Why in all the world Dave, should I help my manager with his job?
Excellent question. Remember, this is about you. Yes you are helping him, but you are doing things to forge and build your career. The best chance to give yourself when you approach your manager with this discussion, is to already be busting your butt and trying your darnedest to be the best professional that you can be. When he sees that you are trying, he will try too.
A manager is like a fighter pilot and you are like the troops on the ground. His job is to fly cover and support you and your job is to advance. If either party is not doing their job…well, you know what happens – no one wins.
If you’ve been reading along here at The Technician Shop, you’re beginning to see good management practices discussed. We suggest that you save these posts in a file for future reference. Most technician managers are good people. They are just trying to do their own job, keeping their boss, customers, coworkers and you happy. There is nothing easy about the hectic pace of their job. They need to hear from you and what you need.
Remember, it’s your career. You gotta put in the effort. But if you’re not getting the air cover that you need, you might have to find a new pilot.
Photo by thenewarea51 on Flickr
