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The Four Manager Types and Their Impact on Performance

  • Thursday July 14, 2022
  • Leadership   

What are the four manager types? Why are they important? and how do they impact your team’s performance?

If you lead and advise your teams based on your own expertise and strong track record as an individual contributor you might be destroying value for the team.

In a recent study, Gartner identified four distinct manager types and analyzed their impact on sustainable performance:

Sustainable Performance = Employee Performance + Employee Health

Sustainable performers are 17% more productive and 1.7X more likely to stay at their companies.

The Connector manager type appeared to be most effective in driving sustainable performance.

Connector managers improved employee performance by 26% and tripled the likelihood that their direct reports were high performers.

So, what are the 4 manager styles and their impact?

(1) Manager Style #1: The Connector Manager

 

Creates a positive team environment

Focuses on building quality relationships

Helps employees develop network

 

45% boost on sustainable performance

 

(2) Manager Style #2: The Cheerleader Manager

 

Motivates people to shape own development

Gives positive feedback, avoids criticism

Doesn’t obsess over details

 

Marginal boost (due to positive empowerment) on sustainable performance

 

(3) Manager Style #3: The Always-On Manager

 

Provides frequent or ‘in-the-moment’ feedback / coaching

Directs employee development

 

No impact on sustainable performance

 

(4) Manager Style #4: The Teacher Manager

 

Provides advice based on their own expertise strong track record as individual contributor

Directs employee development

 

Negative impact on sustainable performance

 

Connector managers closely monitor their team’s health and cohesion. They also build a foundation of psychological safety that fosters trust, so that employees are invested in one another’s well-being and success, not just their own. 


Teamraderie experiences can help your managers become better Connectors. Experiences are designed to cultivate a positive team environment and build social ties among team members.

"Connector managers improved employee performance by 26% and tripled the likelihood that their direct reports were high performers."
Example Popular Experiences for Strengthening Connections

Did you know that despite snacking being a global habit, 80% of snacks are popular in only one single country?

Led by a food & beverage expert, this experience aims to help build connection through a shared activity. During the experience, you will try snacks representing multiple cultures and continents and discuss each of your favorite snacks. Teamraderie will ship you an elegant kit containing three different snacks and a beverage. You will learn how different cultures are connected through snacks.   

Don’t miss this opportunity to build connection, leaving you with fresh perspectives, a sense of togetherness, and a renewed sense of collaboration.


[...]
$45 per person
25 min

Did you know that participating in a creative activity with a group can lead to a shared experience that helps individuals feel a sense of togetherness?

Led by a professional artist, this experience aims to boost connection and wellbeing through a shared painting workshop. Prior to the experience, you will choose a theme to paint. During the experience, you will learn painting techniques and create a masterpiece together. You will use paints, a canvas, and brushes provided by Teamraderie. You will learn that while the instructions are the same, each piece created represents the uniqueness of the individual who painted it.

Don’t miss this opportunity to boost connection and wellbeing, leaving you with fresh perspectives, a strengthened sense of camaraderie, and a collective team spirit.

Choose between three themes:

(1) Regional landmark chosen by your team – get to know each other better by learning about a place your colleague is from

(2) Team logo – create a team logo and discuss shared goals

(3) Celebrate the season, holidays, or end of year as a team!


[...]
$90 per person
01h15m

Harvard Business Review states, “Teams should make authenticity a core value from the start.” When employees introduce their authentic selves, “Both they and their employer perform better.”

Led by Emmy nominated poet IN-Q, this experience aims to build trust and increase psychological safety through an interactive poetry workshop. For the first ten minutes, IN-Q performs a piece of work live — and your team becomes accustomed to ‘spoken word art’ or ‘slam poetry’ as a medium for story-telling. Then, IN-Q will share a prompt and your team will practice their own story-telling.

Don’t miss this opportunity to form deep connections and fast, leaving you with new insights, a feeling of camaraderie, and a revitalized team spirit.

A February 2021 Wall Street Journal front-page article praised this Teamraderie experience for emblematic of how modern managers are adapting their style for a new era of work. The WSJ story quotes a Dell Technologies executive who used the experience to create “a deeper sense of trust between colleagues.” This experience will help your team form deep connections and trust – fast.


[...]
$3,000 for up to 100 people
01h30m
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