Wellbeing at work is a complex phenomenon and there are thus also many different strategies that can be used for the enhancement of co-workers wellbeing and individual development. On a yearly basis most organizations have manager/employee dialogues, so called performance appraisal interviews or staff development talks (SDT), which sometimes includes a focus on workers wellbeing. Little is however known about managers’ views and carrying through of SDT:s in relation to a wellbeing perspective.
The aim was to explore managers’ description of SDT implementation from a wellbeing perspective.
Fifteen managers (3 women and 12 men with varying age) at different levels of an inter municipal corporation company participated in three focus group interviews. The participants shared their thoughts about SDT:s in general and described their implementation of SDT:s in particular. The results from the interviews were transcribed and analyzed through conventional qualitative content analysis.
All the participants found the SDT:s useful for them in their role as managers of different units of the company. Clarity and concretization were considered important but more or less challenging for them depending on the work at the unit. The results showed that the managers had different approaches characterizing the planning and implementation of SDT:s, which resulted in the wellbeing perspective being more or less in focus during the SDT:s. The identified approaches were named operational and interpersonal.
Managers different SDT approaches means that the wellbeing perspective is more or less in focus in relation to SDT:s, despite the managers being located in the same company and having the same information as well as dialogue tools. Communication, reflection and senesemaking among managers is thus needed for strengthening the wellbeing perspective in general, with adherent relation to employees having equal opportunities for SDT:s characterized by a wellbeing perspective in particular.