Effective teamwork is crucial for achieving project success and organizational growth in the fast-paced world of technology. Managers in the technology sector often have high expectations of their teams. Technology teams are pivotal in innovation, development, and maintaining a company's competitive edge. In this article, I discuss my expectations for my team and my team's expectations for me.
Manager Expectations
Team members can expect the following from me as a manager. This includes management style, diversity, communication, development, and mentorship.
Management Style
Micromanagement has no place in the modern workplace. We are all disciplined and mature professionals accountable for delivering without constant oversight. I aim to build a diverse and inclusive team environment. Diverse teams often deliver better products in a positive environment, accepting all our differences.
Transparent Communication
Effective communication is the cornerstone of a successful manager-team relationship. Team members expect their manager to be a clear and consistent communicator. I will provide transparent communication to the team. Feel free to ask me questions to get further clarity on any topic.
Leadership and Direction
A primary expectation of team members of their manager is to provide effective leadership and direction. Managers should set clear goals and objectives for the team. My goal is to empower you to be awesome. I aim to help you reach career-related goals and keep you productive and fulfilled at work. I will give you the support you need to be successful.
Support and Development
Managers play a significant role in the professional development of their team members. Employees expect their managers to offer support and guidance to help them excel in their roles. Managers should also facilitate opportunities for skill development and career growth. I am a firm believer in continual learning for everyone. I will always support you in any activity related to learning new technology or other educational activities.
Mentorship and Feedback
Effective managers often serve as mentors to their team members. This involves offering guidance and sharing insights gained from their experience. Team members expect their manager to be a source of wisdom and support as they navigate their careers. Feedback is essential to the development process. I will give timely constructive feedback whenever appropriate. I will provide feedback about an event as soon as possible.
Team Expectations
Managers can expect the following from teams. This includes technical skills, communication, collaboration, ownership, health, deliverables, and development.
Technical Proficiency
The foundation of any technology team's success lies in their technical proficiency. Managers expect team members to deeply understand the tools, programming languages, and technologies they work with. I expect team members to be self-motivated learners, keeping up with the ever-evolving tech landscape.
Transparent Communication
In a technology team, communication is paramount. Managers expect team members to be effective communicators, not just with each other but also with stakeholders, clients, and other departments within the organization. Every team member is encouraged to speak up. When giving an opinion on an idea, you are expected to explain the rationale of your concept, including possible solutions for problems.
Collaboration and Teamwork
Technology projects are rarely solo endeavors. Managers expect their teams to collaborate seamlessly, leveraging each team member's unique strengths to achieve common objectives. Collaboration isn't just about working together; it's about sharing knowledge, supporting each other, and collectively achieving goals.
Accountability and Ownership
I believe in accountability and ownership. Let's be proud of what we produce. We should be owners and not renters of our products. We should celebrate a job well done. When people do something great, let them know. I believe in focus and priorities. I expect every team member to work on the highest priority items first. Be proactive about asking for help. If you are blocked on any item, you must bring this up during the daily standup. Remember, there are no stupid questions, so please ask.
Quality Deliverables
Technology teams are not just responsible for delivering projects on time but also for ensuring the quality of the work. Managers expect teams to adhere to best practices, conduct rigorous testing, and consistently deliver products that meet or exceed the quality standards set by the organization. Teams are expected to be well-versed in security best practices, implement robust security measures, and stay informed about the latest security threats and solutions. I hold every team member accountable for delivering a quality product on time.
Health and Safety
I believe in honesty, integrity, and psychological safety among teams. As a team, we must be honest and support each other. Constructive criticism should be encouraged, but highly critical, destructive statements will not be tolerated. Be kind to each other! Inclusivity and equality in our team are essential. If anyone is found misbehaving, it will be taken care of quickly. Be respectful of each other! Burnout is real. Take care of yourself, and please tell me when you're feeling overwhelmed or unhappy. Do not be a workaholic. Make sure that you take breaks to avoid burnout. If I regularly see you online during off-hours, I will poke you to go offline and enjoy life.
Development Process
Let's keep meetings to a minimum. All meetings should include agendas, and discussions should be time-boxed. It is impossible to avoid all meetings, but please respect each other's time. When scheduling meetings, please consider the time zone differences for individuals. Each team member manages their time, responsibilities, and workplace. Team members may work from any location as long as I can reach you, the work is getting done on time, and no complaints are made about you. This may vary based on company policy.