Smartsheet EVP of engineering, Praerit Garg discusses the importance of middle managers

Arsineh

Hello Smartsheet Community,

In a recent article for Forbes, Praerit Garg, Smartsheet EVP of engineering shares insights on transforming middle management and amplifying the power of people.

He highlights the importance of great managers, noting that they “drive employee engagement, retention and performance”. He points to Gallup research results that show what happens when managers fall short, with one in two employees saying they left a job to get away from a manager.

Do you find these research results surprising or not? Share your thoughts and tell us about the impact managers have had on your ability to grow and do your best work. Drop your responses in the comments below.

You can read the full article to learn three steps Praerit Garg believes companies can take to create a strong management culture including adopting and utilizing a collaborative work management platform so that managers can focus on the things that matter most, coaching and leading their teams.

Alison Clancy

Great managers are crucial! That balance of having someone to bounce ideas off of and provide guidance when you feel stuck vs. letting you fly and do what you do best. Nothing better when your goal is to keep growing and keep going.

Sandra Guzman

The included article link is a good read! I like and agree with the steps that Praerit Garg outlined.

I am not the least bit surprised by the research results. Managers are the driving force behind their team and the outcomes are a direct reflection of their leadership. I recently delivered a training focused on developing others and the main topic was focused on Blanchard's SLII theory and the situational approach to managing people. It outlines the different leadership styles and how you can match that up to the development level of your people. At the end of the day the entire employee experience begins and ends with their manager.

We all can look at managers we have had that have made an impact on our lives. Whether it was positive or negative. Clearly the negative interactions are the ones that will demotivate. On the opposite side, you can consider that manager that motivated you to be your best. Looking at what that manager did to motivate you is the best example of what to do yourself if you are a manager. Motivating, inspiring and engaging people is not always an easy task but when you strike the right balance - the rewards are great in the end!

Erin Kim

This was a good read!

Arsineh

Glad you enjoyed it @Sandra Guzman and @Erin Kim. A new post by Praerit Garg is now available. Check it out here.