What employees of today’s startups are looking for in a manager and a workplace culture differs wildly from what people may have expected in the past. Remote work, an increased focus on DEI and healthy workplace culture, and a greater importance placed on work-life balance have influenced the job of management. With this shift, the manager’s role has evolved from simply overseeing tasks and delegating work to inspiring teams to work together toward shared goals.
In this article, we explore some actionable strategies startup managers can apply to transform their team dynamics and reach maximum productivity — and employee satisfaction.
Empathy in leadership
“Today, effective leadership extends beyond technical expertise and strategic acumen,” says Melanie Powers, president of Goodberlet Home Services. “Emotional intelligence, or (EQ) — the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s own emotions while empathizing with and influencing the emotions of others — has emerged as a critical skill for leaders who wish to inspire their teams, navigate challenges, and foster a positive workplace culture.”
Approaching leadership with today’s multigenerational teams requires startup managers to have a strong capacity for empathy and open communication. The most effective leaders can recognize individual strengths and weaknesses within team members and foster an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing concerns and fielding constructive feedback.
According to Asim Hafeez, owner and operator of Empower Energy Solutions, it all comes back to empathy and authenticity.
“I can’t stress enough how everything stems from genuine care, especially for startups,” says Hafeez. “Investing in your employees’ personal growth and professional development shows that you care, and they will be more willing to offer the same care right back into your company.”
As Hafeez explains, startup managers can more strongly establish trust among their employees by leading with empathy and understanding. This trusting relationship can be an invaluable tool in team development and collaboration.
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Clear goals and expectations
Managers must learn to set clear goals for their team and reasonable expectations by adhering to the SMART rule — “Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.” Following these specifications allows managers to better guide the team towards reaching their goals.
Expectations also need to be clear and reasonable. Open and empathetic communication remains key to setting clear expectations.
“Empathetic leaders don’t just focus on results but also consider their team members’ emotions, concerns, and perspectives,” says Powers. “This creates a strong foundation of trust, which is essential for open communication and collaboration.”
When startup managers know their team members well and lead with empathy, they can better ensure their team members understand expectations and can handle them well. Managers can also better tap into their team members’ individual goals and ensure they align with the organization’s goals to foster an environment of individual and team success.
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Motivation and engagement
Today’s workers seek meaningful engagement from their managers. They want to be heard and know their input is appreciated.
Teams that feel valued, respected, and listened to are more likely to be productive and remain loyal to the organization. Managers are responsible for developing strategies to effectively motivate and engage with their employees.
“Showing your employees that you genuinely care through personal gestures that recognize their value and contributions resonates deeply,” says Hafeez.
Managers should recognize and reward achievements through a system that offers tangible acknowledgment when a team member performs well. Managers should also offer professional development and learning opportunities, as these not only benefit the individual employee but also the entire startup team through the upskilling that comes with them.
This way, managers can help create a work environment that encourages positive motivation through authentic engagement, learning opportunities, and acknowledgment.
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Flexible leadership
A good leader is not only empathetic and engaging but also flexible. Effective managers should be able to tailor their management styles to different team members and situations that may arise. By keeping communication open and empathy attuned to their team members, shifting gears and remaining flexible should come naturally to leaders of startups.
“New generations were raised very differently, with access to answers, technology, and help always at their fingertips, be it forums, peer pools, artificial intelligence, or search engines,” says Clark Lowe, president and CEO of O’Connor Company. “Young professionals have become more attuned to leadership principles managers possess. My top recommendation for all managers is leading through the following question and statement: ‘What’s your recommendation?’ and ‘I trust your judgment.’”
Managers should encourage collaboration and innovation when attempting to solve problems or develop new concepts. When team members are in a startup environment that doesn’t shut down teamwork or collaborative efforts, creative problem-solving becomes streamlined.
Additionally, managers can apply their adaptive management style by remembering that constructive feedback should always be actionable and delivered with the aim of improving individual and team performance.
Good managers can transform startup teams into productive, happy employees who are excited about their work and its contributions to the organization. Through dedication and self-awareness, managers can learn to lead with empathy and open, productive communication.
By embracing the proven strategies outlined here and the input from industry leaders, managers can create a more collaborative, motivated, and high-performing team environment in their startups.
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