Successful modern leaders must be supportive of staff, but must also take decisive action to maintain standards of behaviour and professionalism in the workplace.<\/p>\n
Are the worst leaders those who fail to support and develop staff or <\/strong>those who fail to effectively challenge people when standards of behaviour and professionalism are not met?<\/p>\n The best managers are those who are able to do both.<\/p>\n In order to establish and enhance standards in the workplace as a manager the first pre-requisite is a strong relationship of trust and respect. \u00a0 It is possible to maintain minimum standards through fear – for a while at least – but if you want people to perform to their best then your relationship with them has to be strong.<\/p>\n As a manager you have to have a clear idea about what excellence is, and to be confident enough in your own knowledge and the relationship with the report to give feedback.<\/p>\n Usually when people hear the feedback word they assume immediately that the feedback must be negative or corrective. There is an assumption that feedback is given when a standard is not met.\u00a0 However managers must spend time providing affirming feedback for all the great work that goes on – if they expect their adjusting feedback to be listened to.<\/p>\n Feedback needs to be given effectively.\u00a0 It needs to focus on the specific behaviours and their consequences and leave the responsibility for making necessary changes with the report.<\/p>\n It needs to be given from a position of wanting to help and being constructive.\u00a0 From wanting to see the recipient of the feedback produce consistently high quality results.\u00a0 Feedback given from a critical, negative or superior place is rarely effective.<\/p>\n