The Importance of Transparency in ManagementWhy transparency is a key trait for any manager

There isn't one perfect recipe that makes a great manager, although, there may be one secret ingredient that many managers are lacking: transparency.

Compassion, communication, time management and strong leadership skills are also important traits that a manager should possess. 

But we believe that transparency is one of the fundamental tools of a great manager.

What is transparency?

Transparency is described as ‘the practice of being open and honest with others, no matter how challenging it might be’. Transparency allows information to flow through a business, so that no team member, regardless of status within the business, is not in the know.

Many managers out there believe that holding on to information is a source of power and that granting access to information to their employees diminishes their power somehow.

Why is transparency beneficial to employees?

Being part of a team where communication is lacking and little information is given is extremely difficult. It’s impossible to know where you fit in when you can only see from your perspective.

With complete transparency, all employees have access to information. They can all see the bigger picture and understand how they can make a direct impact on the project at hand.

It’s also much easier for employees to make shifts and small changes when something has changed elsewhere. This ensures everyone is aligned and that no one is going ahead in the wrong direction.

Transparency allows employees to reach their goals faster and work more efficiently as they have access to everything they need to succeed.

Why is transparency beneficial to managers?

As stated before, there are managers out there who do not believe in the concept of transparency, as they don’t want others to be in the know. Knowledge, after all, is power.

The burden of sharing the correct information with the correct people falls onto the manager and any breakdown in communication will come straight back to the manager as a failure on their part.

When all information is available to team members, employees can envision how they fit in and how they can improve on the project as a whole. 

This means that they are more motivated and innovative, making managing them a far simpler task.

How to implement transparency within your team

Now that you’re aware of how beneficial transparency is to team members and managers alike, you need to work out how transparency can be implemented within your team.

It’s not a good idea to just bombard your employees with piles of information, as this is likely to result in no one reading it all.

There are a few things that managers can do to increase transparency in the workplace, which may be a good fit for you and your team.

Get to know your employees

We don’t necessarily mean finding out everything about their personal lives, but it is important for managers to have an idea of each employee’s strengths and weaknesses. 

This will ensure you use their skills in the most effective way.

Assign work accordingly

With that in mind, allocate the right tasks to the right people. That might be based on their preferences, their strengths, or their weaknesses.

You may want an employee to tackle an area their less familiar with to improve their skills there. Whatever the reasoning is, share the logic with that employee when assigning them. Having a flexible shift scheduling solution can make things easier here.

Ensure your door is always open

If employees have any issues with how work is being assigned, they need to know that you’re open to feedback. In fact, you should encourage it. Empower them to speak up if they’re struggling with a certain area or would like to try their hand at a different role.

Keep communication frequent

The logic behind certain shift assignments might take a while to explain to everyone, so if you can, a series of quick minute-long chats with individuals might be an easier way to keep everyone in the loop.

Explaining your decisions on a one-to-one basis may also encourage more open and honest conversations about an employee’s preferences and where they see themselves within the business. 

Transparency in management is a fundamental component of any successful team. Information is key for ensuring employees have everything they need to complete the tasks at hand.

Furthermore, clear communication allows for efficiency and lowers the probability that projects are not completed in a timely manner. Try using transparency with your team or employees and reap the benefits right away. 

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