The squeaky wheel is just that — squeaky. I have watched too many managers think the only way they can lead is by being loud and essentially playing the role of the squeaky wheel.
I find the only outcome is the squeaks over time have to become louder and louder to command the same amount of attention.
Quiet leaders on the other hand don’t have to play the squeaky wheel card to be heard. They’re heard because of who they are and the level of credibility and integrity they’ve established.
When a team knows where a leader is coming from and has respect for them, they respond to the leader without the leader even having to say anything. This comes from respect for the leader and the confidence the team knows the leader has for them.
The measurement I see as to the style a manager has is by watching what happens when the manager is not present for an extended period of time and how the leader responds when they return. Quiet leaders can come and go without anyone noticing and the level of performance remains high.
Conversely, the squeaky wheel manager has a team where performance rises and falls based on how the team responds to the manager’s “squeaks.”
Copyright 2016, Mark Hunter “The Sales Hunter.” Sales Motivation Blog. Mark Hunter is the author of High-Profit Selling: Win the Sale Without Compromising on Price.
