Being a People Person Doesn’t Mean Being a People Pleaser
Managers labeled as being a “people person” sometimes get a bad rap. Some almost view it with disdain. As a manager it certainly helps if you are friendly or “approachable.” But being a people person does not mean you have to be “friends,” go out after work, or be “all in their business.”
Granted, taken to its extreme, the compassion and familiarity you feel toward your employees can get in the way of making good decisions. But no matter what your natural focus is, there are benefits, and there are risks.
But that’s not the “people person” kind of manager I’m talking about anyway. I’m rooting for all managers to be people persons in this way − having a certain amount of understanding of Human nature. Accept that Human dignity and Human nature matter at work, and then… act on this.
Even if you are more organization-focused or self-focused as a manager, this can be incorporated into your manager mindset, in a way that still feels in integrity for you. (Want to learn more about how your natural focus can work for you as a manager of people? Get my People Management Personality(tm) assessment here.)
You don’t have to embrace being a “people person,” but don’t ever forget what it really takes to get the best from who is actually getting the work done.
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