Setting The Agenda As A Manager
(second in a series titled Issues Managers Face in the Workplace)
Managing people is not easy work. The pressure from those higher up to perform and reach goals, customer issues, and employee issues is relentless. Your days are harried, complicated, and busy! Many companies give their managers a certain amount of autonomy in how they run their teams. This is great in that you are not going to feel too micro-managed. The down side? You have to choose the right path for your team. You have your own style. That only gets you just so far.
One Way To Operate
One way to operate as a manager is Cuius regio, eius religio (Latin: Whose the region, his the religion). Your company, your department, your team – your way! This is empowering and at times intoxicating. You finally get to do things your way. You have control, budget, and resources. Let’s go here! Not so fast. There are goals from your senior leaders to meet. The team needs your guidance and direction, not your iron fist. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Many instances require you to lead from the front – to take charge and show your team that you are leading, taking care of them. After all, you are the boss.
Another Way To Operate
Humility. According to the dictionary, humility means, “a modest or low view of one’s own importance; humbleness.” Notice the definition doesn’t say meek, quiet, or a low view of one’s skills or confidence. The focus is on “importance.” You’ll find plenty of opportunity to be in the spotlight as a manager. Your willingness to give the spotlight to your team early and often will show you as a strong, confident leader. Humble.
The Situational Approach – Art Not Science
Your basic style will not, probably cannot, change. You are who you are. There are times that call for more humility, other times that call for you to lead from the front and ‘take charge.’ Each of these alone is a scientific approach. Knowing how and when to apply each way is art. This means practice makes perfect. It may be easier to hold to one approach versus another under the guise of consistency or confidence. Reality doesn’t work that way.
Be yourself – and try an artful approach to working with your team!
_______
Merry Christmas from The Happy Burro! I wish you all the peace and joy of this great season.
Stumble it!
Joe Raasch :: Dec.24.2007 :: Employee Engagement, Leadership :: 2 Comments »
Joe,
I look forward to more of this in the New Year. This is great, terrifically articulated stuff (my vote for most effective phrase: “Whose the region, his the religion” – wow! – doesn’t that describe a lot of corporate or unit environments we all know!)
Happy New Year to you and yours!
Hi Jim,
Good to hear from you!
It is strange that autonomy and flexibility given to managers can end up as fiefdom-building and dictatorial control of departments.
Happy New Year to you and yours as well!