As machine learning and brain science advance with remarkable speed, it's not implausible to imagine leadership behaviors reduced to a component of a master algorithm. Thankfully, there are some distinctly human attributes that may be difficult to capture in this format. Use them as if your survival as a leader depended on it.
It's too easy to let the personal problems of our coworkers or employees become our problems. Beware the emerging drama storm as a new manager, and take steps to keep the discussion focused on the business of business.
The general guidance on building effective teams is right, it's just often not specific enough. Here are 4 keys to building your great team that don't get enough consideration in most workplaces:
It turns out, a good part of success is tuning in to our true purpose and mission. It's a lofty or squishy sounding topic that is made tangible if we spend some time uncovering our unique backstories. The events that have shaped us as humans give life and purpose to us as professionals.
Cultivating the skills and confidence to navigate constructive (negative) and positive feedback discussions is a game changer for any manager. Unfortunately, most first-time managers have received little to no training for this important performance tool. The good news is that armed with an understanding of the building blocks of effective feedback discussions and ample practice, you can learn to master this important management skill.
I can predict with near certainty the likely mistakes you will make as a first-time manager. While no one learns to manage or lead without making mistakes, these nine potentially dangerous missteps are easy to avoid with a bit of advance warning. Consider this your advance warning.
There's no shortage of those in leadership roles who might reasonably be described as mundane. They focus on performance, but fail to inspire the pursuit of potential. That's too bad, because there's nothing secret or particularly difficult about pursuing extraordinary as a leader. Small changes in behaviors have the potential to yield big outcomes.
Starting out successfully as a new manager is challenging. However, there's one thing you can do to improve your odds of success from the first moment of your new role. Invest time to...
Learning to appreciate and value differences on your team takes effort on your part. An open-door policy isn't enough. You need to stretch. A good question to keep in mind is: "What's it like to be you?"
We're taught from an early age in school what we need to do to earn the "A." Unfortunately, the real world isn't that structured, predictable, or kind. Learning to tolerate ambiguity and uncertainty in business is essential for survival. Learning to leverage these characteristics is essential for success.
