Manager: just learn and share !
01/10/2009
I’ve been working since college; Further more, I have never worked part-time, and most of the time I worked long extra hours. Initially, I did it only to be able to learn and gain experience. Later, I did it out of passion and desire to become the best. I’ve always wanted to do more; I’ve always been thirsty to learn more. I wanted more from myself and from the others – I mean those others who had the potential to do give it. I know I am on my way to success as a manager because I’ve been involved in every aspect of each business I lead. I’ve always known ‘what is what’ because I cared about what was going on in a company.
I’ve learned that a team can instantly make you or break you, that you should know how to choose those people who understand your vision and give you support, especially during critical moments. I’ve wanted my team to be as passionate as I am, not to say ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I can’t do that’ before even trying. It may seem harder and harder to find trustworthy people, but I think you, as a manager, must earn their trust first before you demand that from them. For example, if you make a promise, make sure you keep it!
Being a manager (a good one!) doesn’t mean to sit in an office, have exhausting meetings and just boss people around. You must take the time to know your team, to know their strengths and weaknesses. This also includes knowing them on a personal level, not only how they behave during the 8 hours’ work. Many would say it is impossible to get to know all your people, when you lead a very large team. But believe me as I am not speak from the books: I have managed to do that, even if that took me days and extra time. My staff always knew they could count on me whenever they had a problem – even on the personal level – because I paid attention, I listened and I tried to help them, much as I could.
Of course, motivating your team and providing support is very important. You must show appreciation for every good thing they do, for every accomplishment they have, because that's what matters the most. A simple ‘thank you’ coming from their manager has sometimes more impact than certain bonuses. Or so I was told…
No matter how high you are on top, you always learn, every day. You have to! Every experience, meeting, discussion is a lesson to be learnt. But if you don’t use what you learn, or you don’t share that knowledge with others, then it was all for nothing, it is wasted time. It will only be information, you keep locked in a drawer. That’s why I prefer not to keep my information a secret and share it with others, through my every day activity, my training or consultancy sessions. And if others learn from my experience and by that learn how to deal with and solve a problem (even better than I did), then I believe I'm entitled to say: mission accomplished!
I’ve learned that a team can instantly make you or break you, that you should know how to choose those people who understand your vision and give you support, especially during critical moments. I’ve wanted my team to be as passionate as I am, not to say ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I can’t do that’ before even trying. It may seem harder and harder to find trustworthy people, but I think you, as a manager, must earn their trust first before you demand that from them. For example, if you make a promise, make sure you keep it!
Being a manager (a good one!) doesn’t mean to sit in an office, have exhausting meetings and just boss people around. You must take the time to know your team, to know their strengths and weaknesses. This also includes knowing them on a personal level, not only how they behave during the 8 hours’ work. Many would say it is impossible to get to know all your people, when you lead a very large team. But believe me as I am not speak from the books: I have managed to do that, even if that took me days and extra time. My staff always knew they could count on me whenever they had a problem – even on the personal level – because I paid attention, I listened and I tried to help them, much as I could.
Of course, motivating your team and providing support is very important. You must show appreciation for every good thing they do, for every accomplishment they have, because that's what matters the most. A simple ‘thank you’ coming from their manager has sometimes more impact than certain bonuses. Or so I was told…
No matter how high you are on top, you always learn, every day. You have to! Every experience, meeting, discussion is a lesson to be learnt. But if you don’t use what you learn, or you don’t share that knowledge with others, then it was all for nothing, it is wasted time. It will only be information, you keep locked in a drawer. That’s why I prefer not to keep my information a secret and share it with others, through my every day activity, my training or consultancy sessions. And if others learn from my experience and by that learn how to deal with and solve a problem (even better than I did), then I believe I'm entitled to say: mission accomplished!
