The Ambassadorial Manager: Championing your Team's Success & Growth

Lately, I have been pondering quite a bit about one of the main principles that guides me in my role as manager: you have to be your team’s most honest critic but also their biggest fan. It can be a delicate balance, but I truly believe this is essential in helping my team members thrive and ensuring their well-being at work. This got me thinking how crucial it is to be ambassadors for their teams.

Much like a country’s ambassador, a manager represents their team to the rest of the organization and beyond either by building bridges and strengthening relationships, or by championing their cause.

It is the responsibility of the manager to act as team’s spokesman. You need to communicate your team’s interests, achievements, and concerns to higher-ups or other departments. This can help secure resources, recognition, and support for your team members. Just like an ambassador is the spokesman of the country they represent, as a manager you also have a duty to create and maintain relationships with other teams and departments, while shaping and maintaining a positive image of your team.

You also have to be prepared to stand up for the team and act as “fighter” when necessary. As uncomfortable as it might make you feel, it is your duty to defend the team in situations of unfair criticism, to protect them from unreasonable demands, or when negotiating better working conditions.

Being an ambassadorial manager is a journey filled with learning, adapting, and celebrating your team’s successes. Cheers to becoming the ambassador your team deserves!