In business, much of our time is devoted to maintaining and growing our client/customer base. It’s essential to any company’s long-term prosperity. But managing the clients we already have is just as critical. And in those cases, it is more important that you are followed, rather than being right.
Does that sound familiar? Making your mark as a leader is important. It establishes your credibility while inspiring your teams to follow your lead. Teams want/need a leader who has a vision, is vocal about it and knows how to operationalize their spoken vision. It’s that simple, it’s just not that easy to accomplish.
Jobs change…they come, they go, they get eliminated, they get created…like business roulette! Mission critical for all of us is to stay on top of the wave. If we miss it, we’ve got to find the next one…fast! Get Ready for the Head Change When that job change comes, do your best to interview like a […]
Every time you observe a Direct’ s client interaction, realize it’s an opportunity for you to coach and develop. Too often we’ll forget to debrief a Direct on what they did well and what they can strengthen. If you coach them correctly, they may lead you to new ways to help them develop.
Picking up from last week’s post about fitting in as a new manager, let’s look at ways to provide direction and shape a Direct’s behavior. Your organization believes you can develop and lead people. Do you believe it?
When managers are brought in, assigned or moved to another department, it upsets the apple cart a bit. Perhaps you have been, or are, that manager now. How do you fit in?
Many of my clients are quick-learning, driven executives. Often, though, I stress the importance of teaching directs how to accomplish a task/project versus telling them how to accomplish it or worse, doing it for them.
Your career, like it or not, is not in your control. Sure, you can be extremely competent and even praised by your superiors. But in the end, you need your direct reports to be successful in order for your career to thrive. No leader ever accomplished anything without people to lead. You need their vote, […]
When communicating an idea or recommendation, it is essential to check in. However, it’s “how” you do it that makes all the difference. Can you ask “Am I right?” No. That’s not appropriate…well…pretty much ever! You can, though, when you are speaking with a direct report, client or colleague, ask relational check-in questions. Asking Relational Questions Relational […]
My grandfather, and I expect many of yours, always counseled me: “Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.” I counsel my clients to consider this adage when dealing with their most troublesome clients and business associates. You know the ones…they offer their opinions constantly, practice inactive listening and have an air of superiority that […]
