The companies Hilton, Cisco, and American Express are among the best companies to work for, thanks to their outstanding teamwork and benefits. All of these companies practice human resources through a mix of strategic and evidence-based management. Strategically, these companies blend their policies with objectives, such as American Express and Cisco, allowing employees to take time off when necessary while continuing to meet their performance quotas. The Hilton brand practices evidence-based management by making employees feel heard through surveys and external company reports. This management style makes staff members feel proud to work at Hilton brands.
The kind of manager I would like to be is one who makes employees feel welcome and supported while also keeping them on task towards the company’s objectives. One key aspect I would implement into my own management style comes from Patagonia. In the book Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman, by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, he states, “Our policy has always allowed employees to work flexible hours, as long as work gets done … A serious surfer doesn’t plan to go surfing next Tuesday at two o’clock. You go surfing when there are waves and the tide and wind are right” (171). I believe this philosophy would allow me to get the most out of the staff, as it would give employees a better work-life balance, leading to more productive work. Being an understanding boss, like Chouinard, would also help me achieve higher employee retention and make it easier to hire a highly skilled staff.
The biggest challenges I will face as a manager are salary negotiations. Salary negotiations, to many, are one of the most complex parts of being a manager because money is a sensitive topic. As a manager, you always want to pay your staff what they deserve, but what if the company won’t allow it or the employee thinks they are worth more than they are? This subject can lead to a lot of frustration on both sides, making it difficult for managers to be kind and do what’s best for the company.
Chouinard, Yvon. Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman. Penguin Books, 2006.