We write and talk about the challenges, trials, and pitfalls of those getting started in management. What we don't do enough of is offer some perspective on the potential for the role of manager to evolve into a rewarding career. Here's my attempt to balance the scales a bit with at least six ideas why you will love managing. While it's not all unicorns and rainbows, there are some truly rewarding aspects to this role.
New manager development in many organizations is ad hoc at best and non-existent at worst. And while short-term pressures often drive sudden decisions to move people into first-time manager roles, the potential for misfiring is high. For managers responsible for identifying and developing new managers, effort expended ahead of time in assessing the individual's fit for the role pays dividends for all parties. Of course, this takes some time and effort ahead of the need. As my old boss would say, "You have to put your back into it."
There are few activities in your management career that offer the high return-on-time-invested (ROTI) than actively engaging and supporting your newly promoted first-time managers. Here are four essential activities to help guide your efforts
One of the root causes of communication failure in the workplace is our inability to listen effectively. We're typically distracted by our own thoughts, striving to multi-task, or, we annoyingly step all over the messages of others. However, we can improve our listening skills, and in the process, solve more problems and build performance. This article offers nine ideas to help strengthen your listening muscle.
Regardless of your best planning, careful observation, and deft delivery sometimes feedback discussions blow up in your face. Here are three common reactions and how to steer the feedback discussion back on track if you encounter them.
Managing can be rewarding and exciting. It also can be disastrous for your career. Before making the move to manager, ask and answer these 10 questions:
While some leadership behaviors are timeless, the context in which we lead is ever-changing. Here are ten leadership behaviors for emerging leaders in our era of volatility and uncertainty.
While the intent of the statement, "I've got an open door policy" is mostly positive, it's naive and out of time and sync in a world where managers are accountable for closing the power gap between themselves and their group members. Get up and get out and narrow the power gap while doing some good.
Real progress in the workplace occurs through challenging conversations. Unfortunately, fear and a lack of self-confidence often get in the way of us conducting these conversations. Here are 4 steps to help quell your fear and grow your self-confidence.
Simply stated, challenging conversations are where we mine the gold from our leadership and management efforts. It's too bad we spend so much time delaying or dodging these discussions. When we do engage, often, we muddle our way through and leave money and performance on the table. Join me for my free webinar on the six challenging conversations at work you must learn to master to succeed.
