GOOD CONVERSATIONS MATTER E昀昀ective and frequent conversations can promote greater productivity, engagement, and retention. For many managers, however, talking with employees about their work performance and career development can be complicated or even stressful. This has become even more so as we adapt to hybrid or remote work environments. Virtual meetings can feel more transactional than in-person meetings. In such settings, it’s also di昀漀cult to read body language, which is important when providing and discussing feedback. But good conversations are absolutely fundamental to being a supportive and e昀昀ective people manager — and a skill that is worth cultivating if you want to be a true leader. Increased pressure on managers As a manager, you are critical to your employees’ experiences. Studies show that the manager-employee relationship is the most important one employees will encounter at every stage of their journey — in fact, according to Gallup, managers alone account for 70% of the variance in team engagement. Good managers are not just supervisors — they are guides, champions, communicators, change makers, cultural ambassadors, mentors, and coaches who can motivate and inspire their teams to deliver their best performance and advance personally and professionally. This linchpin role makes it critical that as managers, you also feel supported in your mission. Unfortunately, exhausted, isolated, or burned-out managers are all too common in the post-pandemic workplace. In fact, a recent Gallup report found that managers are more likely to experience burnout than the average employee. Among the top challenges facing managers, Gallup found, is a lack of clarity around expectations — along with stress and frustrations from heavy workloads and distractions. Getting clarity on the best ways to e昀漀ciently and e昀昀ectively communicate with employees will be a huge bene昀椀t for you as a manager. THE MANAGER’S ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GREAT CONVERSATIONS 3