Just Be You
This is probably the most important post I could ever right about leadership. Too many times, when we move into a leadership role, we try to become someone we are not. We read dozens of books on leadership and try to follow some “expert” advice and transform into what we think need to become to be an effective leader. Unfortunately, this can make you miserable and place your role in jeopardy. Even I have fallen into this easy trap.
When I accepted my last management position, I decided that it “required” me to be somebody I’m not. I thought it would require patience, coddling, micromanagement and a more “happy” me. I quickly found that it made me miserable and everybody around me knew that it wasn’t the real me. Things fell apart quickly. So when I moved on from that position and accepted my current job, I vowed to be ME! You can sum me and my management personality up pretty quickly.
- Grumpy bordering on angry
- Blunt to a fault
- Cuss too damn much
- Trusting – until you burn that trust, then good luck!
- Will fight for my team more than anyone will ever know
That’s pretty much me. Most of the management experts and books will tell you that most of these qualities do not make a good manager. How can I disagree? I’ve been in this position for almost 3 years and I’ve never had a complaint or bad review. My team knows they can trust me to do right by them and I’ll always have their back. BUT, they also know that I will correct them and make the tough decisions when necessary.
Why did I just give you all that? To give you an example of why you shouldn’t follow the books hook, line and sinker. Every book has great value and can teach you quite a bit about the management world. Just do me a favor and don’t pick one author or mentor and mimic them. Different personalities require different management techniques. Even different positions require it. That’s why some managers may succeed in one company and fail miserably at others. I would argue that these managers were also personally miserable in their attempts, but needed the job or the title.
How do you avoid being placed in that situation? Be yourself in the interview! Don’t give them what you think they want to hear. Give them you! If they decide that YOU aren’t a good fit, then accept it and move on to the next interview. Sometimes corporate cultures are so strong that different personalities just don’t fit. Example: ask me to be a micromanager and I will damn near laugh in your face. But ask my ex-boss to be a micromanager and he wouldn’t know any other way.
By the way, this post will also be the last “professional” post. Don’t cheer just yet! I’m in the middle of a site redesign and theme that will more accurately depict me and my style. Stay tuned for the new and improved blog!
Filed under: Leadership, Management Style, Personalities