I hate the word. Manager. Ditto for Supervisor.
If that’s what you do you’ve hired the wrong people. Sorry to break the bad news.
How 1950’s. Brylcreem, horn-rimmed glasses and absolutely no room to think outside the box. You shouldn’t have to play task master, disciplinarian or puppeteer. If you work in a knowledge capacity then there are so many other things you should be that would make you more valuable.
The goal is to problem solve. Doesn’t matter what business you’re in, that is at the heart of what you’re doing.
The best way to do so is to turn people loose and allow them to use their strengths to create a solution. You’re job is to hold the reigns as loosely as possible so that you keep the horse moving in the right direction at the fastest pace possible but not so tightly he tosses you off and runs away.
Try evolving into one of these job titles instead:
photo by fez
Mentor / Coach: Everyone you’ve hired wants to learn. Adjust your role here based on the experience level of your team. But there are some constants. Hold yourself to an impossibly high standard. Teach by example rather than words - your lead will be followed. Be transparent - share in the problems you face and trust people with the sensitive information that effects them (note: almost everything effects them). Explain - tell what you see happening ‘behind the scenes.’ Why things transpire the way they do. It too effects your team. Listen - you can’t coach if you don’t know what problems exist within the team.
Leader: Provide vision. While a manager ensures that a piece of the puzzle is complete a leader understands that he may not have all the pieces. Instead the leader shows the box top and let’s everyone on the team hunt for the corner and the edge pieces. Where a manager instructs which pieces to jam together, a leader provides context.
I’m a big believer that everyone wants to contribute at a valuable level and our traditional style of management only guarantees to stifle any innovation and creativity that dares to present itself. Without that, we’re doomed to plod along in mediocrity until we can plod no longer.
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