And then there was Sex – Manager as Leader (really!)

OK, so I meant to write “And then there was six”, but it got your attention, right? Well, I am going to go back on my word now, and talk about the Manager As Coach – again! This really is the final part of a five part series:

Manager as Coach – Part 6

There is one management skill that should have a post all to itself when talking about the effective Manager, and that is the skill of Leadership.

If you lead, others will follow. I promise!

Any demonstration of authority, expertise, delegation, influence or command is bound to get the followers on their toes, more than willing to follow in the footsteps of the expert, the leader! Some people are simply more than willing to follow, full stop. They do not see the logic of striving for leadership, when it is nice and comfortable back in the herd. They are probably thinking; “let’s just see what happens, and we’ll go along with it. If it works out, great, it was worth it. If it does not work out, at least we can blame the ‘Leader’, and go find a new Leader to follow”.

There is a new category of leadership emerging in the workplace, and that is “The First Follower” but that is a discussion for another day.

When does a Manager show leadership? Some would suggest when the kitchen is running to plan. What is the scene? Hell’s Kitchen? Is that leadership – a mixture of cajoling, bullying, one-sided screaming matches and inflated egos? Or maybe the passive aggressive type? “If your cared about this company” or “If you cared about this team” blah blah blah…

Leadership is about standing out from the crowd. The Managers are battling their way through the thickets in the forest, cutting a new pathway; adrenaline pumping and sweat flowing. They have a sense of “Lost”, running from the black smoke that looms over them.

The Leader climbs up a tree and realises they are heading in the wrong direction in the first place. The leader has the confidence to call it in and say “lads, we are going in the wrong direction, all the hacking and new ideas are going to bring us to a dead end”. The Leader may be challenged; the Managers may be too busy cutting down undergrowth to check their way.

It’s like the story of being too busy mopping up the floor to turn off the leaking tap. A Leader can stand back and assess the situation, take stock, and possibly take the precarious stance and change direction.

But the true signs of a good leader are when the followers trust and respect them. They have confidence in their leader. This is accomplished through appropriate, timed and proper communication. They understand the overall strategy set down by the leader, and appreciate that this strategy is for the good of each member of the team. Each team member understands that their contribution is honoured and respected, and makes a difference, collectively.

A Manager who demonstrates Leadership skills, will firstly be aware of their own strengths and weaknesses (soft spots), and will respect and seek the input of their team members, for the benefit of the organisation, themselves and the team. A good leader’s values will be in line with those of their organisation, but will also know how to live and share those values with those in their charge.

To summarise, leadership is:

• Communication
• Respect
• Trustworthiness
• Common values
• Common goals
• Understanding
• And …

Please add to the list here, as mine is not definitive...