Project Oxygen

Project Oxygen
Investigating why Managers Matter and what best Managers do

- Good Managers demonstrates 8 common behaviours
- 3 pitfalls to avoid
- Good management pays off.
Data on managers and Googlers how good managers have lower turnover, happier Googlers, and higher performing teams.

Methodolgy
People managers were grouped into quartiles based on Googlegeist and pref scores:
- High-scoring managers were thise in top quartile of both measures
- Low-scoring managers were those in the bottom quartile of both measures

To determine what our best managers do, 4 qualitative research data sources were used to identify patterns:
1. Googlegeist comments
2. Great Manager Award nominations
3. Performance reviews
4. Interviews with managers

8 Attributes of a High Scoring Manager :

1) Is a good Coach
2) Empowers the team and does not micromanage.
3) Expresses interest / concern for team members' success and person well-being
4) Is productive and results-oriented.
5) Is a good communicator - Listens and shares information
6) Helps with career development
7) Has a clear vision / strategy for the team
8) Has key technical skills that helps him or her to advice the team

Pitfalls : What cases a good manager to struggle ?
1) Has a tough transition (suddenly promoted, hired with little training)
2) Lacks a consistent philosophy / approach to performance management and career development
3) Spends too little time on managing and communicating

Payoffs to Good Managers behaviours
Googlers reporting to strong managers have lower turnover and score higher on Googlegeist.