It
always surprises us how many managers go through the daily routines of
management without doing the necessary reflecting, thinking and decision making
required to truly lead their teams.
Of
course you should “think” on the job. What we mean to say is that you should do
much more than operate on automatic… you should be really alert to what is
going on around you. Why? Because you then have the opportunity to notice new
ways of doing things and to be open to creative ideas.
New manager training experts recommend this kind of mindfulness as a way to
encourage you and your team to greater performance. This is how it works:
- Wear different hats. Try to approach a particular task from another’s perspective. It may give you a whole new (and perhaps better) way to handle it.
- Encourage questioning. Do not simply accept that the way a job has always been done is the best way to do it. Ask your team for their suggestions on how to improve. When their performance improves, so does yours.
- Empower others. Do not assume that you are the only one who can deal with a challenge. Look around you. Give others a try. Reduce your own stress and give others a chance to develop new skills.
