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By Kathy Simmons Exceptional managers have that "special something" that sets them apart from the crowd. It's not as mysterious as it sounds. Most of the time, that "special something" is the sheer determination to maintain positive habits of success. Do you want to join the ranks of highly effective managers? You can start with these seven proven career-boosters. 1. Increase Your Self-Discipline As manager, like it or not, you are a role model. You set the standard when it comes to personal behaviour, so make sure that standard is high. A moment of impulsiveness can tear down years of hard work when it comes to your career and reputation. According to Daniel Goleman, author of Working With Emotional Intelligence (Bantam Doubleday Dell, 2000), self-control reveals itself in the absence of emotional fireworks. The signs of self-control include "being unfazed under stress or handling a hostile person without lashing out in return."
2. Show Consistent Kindness And, whether you need them or not, treating others poorly will affect your self-esteem. Can you feel good about yourself if you are upsetting or neglecting others? If you don't feel good about yourself, how effective can you be? One impressive manager, Rita, was aware of the power of this habit. Rita always made it a point to say "good morning" to the clerical staff. Her department was large, but this did not deter her from interacting with everyone. She would arrive at the office early every morning to chat with the file clerks and receptionist. Talk about a feeling of respect! Rita knew that many of these "lower level" employees were the first (and sometimes only) ones with whom a potential customer would interact. The more encouragement and esteem they felt, the more pride they would take in their day-to-day duties. Many of these employees called Rita "the best manager we ever had." 3. Stretch Goals High-impact managers must take goal-setting seriously. Your staff expects it, and studies show that the majority of managers fall short in this area. A recent survey polled 7,800 workers, and more than half of them (58 percent) believe that management does a poor job setting goals. How can you avoid this? Write your personal goals and work area goals down. Place them in a visible area so that you--and others--can be reminded of them daily. Writing goals down greatly elevates the likelihood they will be met, but only 5 percent of employees have actually developed this habit. 4. Welcome Criticism Have you asked your employees what you could be doing better? You might be surprised at how revealing their answers will be. Are you worried that they won't be candid with you? Ask your questions in a non-threatening manner. For example: "I'm always interested in improving my management skills. Can you give me some insight on how I can be more effective?" This tactic is safe, constructive, and much better than bluntly asking, "what am I doing wrong?" 5. Be a Solution-Finder, Not a Problem-Identifier Do you have to suffer in silence when you disagree vehemently with something at work? Not at all. You can develop the habit of criticizing positively by recommending a more perfect solution. 6. Show Boundless Enthusiasm Employees will absorb your energy if you show a passion for your work. In fact, many will mold themselves after you in terms of their energy level and general optimism. If you refuse to show enthusiasm, don't be surprised when you find yourself leading a lethargic, apathetic team. 7. Embrace Those Opportunities Developing successful habits isn't easy. Like anything worthwhile, it takes commitment and conviction. If these habits were simple, every single manager would have already put them into practice, and that's just not the case. Are you up to the challenge? |
Disclosure Statement available on request and free of charge, phone 04 471 0662, or email alison@lyfords.co.nz |
