The Transactional vs. Relational Manager
Welcome to season 2 of The Manager’s Desk. I’m Evan Baltz, a Marketing Technology expert and a team builder, and…a bit of an author.
In May, I was pleased to publish my book “The Art of Leadership without Losing Your Soul” which is available on Amazon in 4 different formats: paperback, hardcover, Audible, and Kindle.
In one of the chapters in the book, and on a previous podcast, I discussed The Art of the 1:1. But I wanted to dig into that topic a little more by talking about the differences between the transactional manager and the relational manager.
What’s the first topic your manager discusses with you in a 1:1? I’m not counting the “hi, how’s it going” line…beyond that. Does it feel like they are trying to build a relationship, or simply there to get something from you?
Is the 1:1 about tasks? How is this task coming along? Where are you on that project? Update me on everything you’ve done since our last meeting.
Or,
Is it more like, “tell how you are feeling about your workload?” What challenges are you facing? Are there any roadblocks I can help you remove? Have you been able to enjoy your hobbies lately? How are your kids or family?
The first, as you might have guessed, is the transactional manager. I call them the Task Master Taker. The second is the relational manager, whom I call the Empathetic Encourager.
The task-master taker is primarily focused on what you can do for them. They need things from you, so that is what they focus on. You are their worker. Your job is to please them with what you do. They expect you to make them look good by the work you do for them. They take.
The empathetic encourager gives. They want to give you things that will build you up. They want to come in behind you and support you, and find where your strengths are, and then watch you grow into a role that is best suited for your likes and skills.