When you say you want to be a ‘better manager’, what exactly do you mean?
1) Are you picturing better time management, improved project management systems, and enhanced processes for performance reviews?
OR
2) Are you referring to the growth and development of talent within your team, cultivating a fulfilled workforce, and inspiring your employees to accomplishment greatness?
THERE IS A REAL DIFFERENCE between # 1 and # 2.
If you’re captivated by Number 2, you may just have what it takes to be a better manager.
This week in our month of focussing on managing people, dealing with toxic people, and building high performing teams, we hone in on the intersectionality of managers and leaders.
WARNING
Next level: The best managers are not just bosses. They are leaders!
A boss delegates; A leader inspires.
A boss makes demands of their employees; A leader empowers their employees.
A boss sticks to the processes; A leader influences the team towards a common goal.
If you want to be an Authentic Leader, not just a manager, read on.
To inspire your employees as an Authentic Leader, requires a high level of self-awareness and self-regulation. You must be aware of; your innate strengths, what makes you tick, how you respond in the good, tough and crazy times. You must understand and invest in your colleagues and teammates. Know their strengths, motivations and responses and be able to maintain an even keel, not lose it, not throw your ego around and BE able to consistently lead effectively, by example.
One of the big differences between a manager and an Authentic Leader is the way in which you communicate to empower your employees.
Communication is more than writing really good emails, formulating comprehensive proposals and being a good presenter. Effective communication as an Authentic Leader, is at a whole different level. It’s about understanding your audience so you get the message across to them all, it requires checking out their understanding and responses to the information, being patient and compassionate with those who need more time to get clarity and being supportive of making mistakes and providing solutions.
As an Authentic Leader you must be able to adapt, be clear, concise and honest with the intention of building mutual trust. You must have the capacity to communicate a robust team vision that each employee or team member commits wholeheartedly too.
As an Authentic Leader you MUST expand your own Authentic Leadership skills and abilities. You must continually learn more about yourself and put the learnings into action. You must be committed to and invest in your own growth and development.
BE-ing an Authentic Leader is the best thing you can do for your team or employees, for the success of your organisation and for the fulfillment of your own life and career.
“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence, and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”
Sheryl Sandberg (COO, Facebook)
Gaining the expertise, proficiency, and talent of coaches and mentors arms you with the ability to navigate the best pathway from just being a manager to BE-ing a great Authentic Leader! We cannot do it alone!
Every successful Authentic Leader has first asked “How can I be a better manager?” The answer is, we cannot do this alone. We must surround ourselves with others who have blazed the trail before us, commit to learn, develop and continually grow. Top researchers, academics, entrepreneurs, clinicians and executives turn to Executive Coaching to give them the knowledge, accountability and impetus they need.
If this is YOU and you are ready to make the shift from being a manager to becoming a great Authentic Leader let’s set you up with Executive Coaching right HERE!