The Right Thing To Do

"Management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things." Peter Drucker

Competent workers are often rewarded with a promotion to management. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. While they excelled in their former positions, they sink to mediocrity in supervisory roles because they lack the skills to successfully manage people.

A good manager implements company policy. She is good at building a team and building consensus. She motivates, keeps people on task, finishes on time and comes in under budget. She mediates disputes with customers and vendors and the occasional employee dispute over leftovers in the break room.

A manager should be a leader, but they are two completely different things. A leader can tell you how to do it, but mostly he leads by example. He would never expect anything from you that he wouldn't be willing to do himself. Just when your enthusiasm starts to lag, he says something simple that inspires you. He takes full responsibility when things go wrong, but never fails to give credit where credit is due. You are free to ask questions and even challenge him, and he responds with calm confidence. Then just at the time when you're wondering if he knows what he's doing, he looks at you as if to say, "trust me." And you do, because his track record speaks for itself. You fall in line behind him, following the leader.

Susan

Thinking on Your Feet

"The difficulties you meet will resolve themselves as you advance. Proceed, and light will dawn and shine with increasingly clearness on your path." Jim Rohn

She was fairly young to be in middle management. Blonde and petite, she looks even younger than she is. It was a challenge at first, being the new supervisor of seventy people, most of them older and many of them men. But being too young is a problem that, in time, takes care of itself. Not every problem requires your attention.

Confidence in who you are and in what you intend to do means you figure some things out as you go along. While you may prefer to sit down and formulate a plan, action requires that you keep walking and learn to think on your feet. It sometimes may seem like you're stumbling around in the dark, but sooner or later the light comes on.

Susan

What Goes Down, Must Go Up

"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility." Saint Augustine

All great people have some things in common. The truly great person is self-aware. He is humble, meaning that he knows where his talents lie and he also knows his limitations. He seeks out help and advice when needed. He is a leader, but he has no problem following the right people. He doesn't surround himself with bobbleheads who will always nod in agreement. The great person has no problem being challenged. He avoids tunnel vision by welcoming the perspective and opinions of others. He has no problem rolling up his sleeves and doing the dirty work, but he also knows how to delegate. He assembles a group of the brightest and the best, but avoids micromanaging them. He can do this because he's not at all intimidated by other great people.

I once worked for a woman who was great. She was the first one in the office in the morning, and the last one to leave at night. She modeled hard work and dedication. I trusted her because she knew the workings of our department inside and out, and I respected her because of her work ethic. I gave her 110% percent every day because her leadership inspired me to be the best possible follower.

Great people make great things happen. Once a dream begins to unfold, it often brings with it an opportunity to show humility. It's not humiliation; there is a difference. The truly great person is willing to make sacrifices to see her dream realized. She has no problem living simply, doing without some luxuries, waiting tables or sweeping floors. No illusions of grandeur occupy her mind, because she has a clear understanding of what it takes to succeed. She is determined and will not be denied. The dream is such a part of the fabric of her being that she is more than willing to pay her dues. When she reaches the top, she will always acknowledge the other folks who helped her get there, and will be thankful for the lucky breaks she got along the way.

Some people have a false pride that inhibits them from doing what it takes to build that tower that will pierce the sky. They won't lower themselves to grubby tasks. It's just too humiliating. These people are not great. They miss the entire point of greatness, which is simply this. To go up, you must first go down.

Susan