Do you remember the first day you became manager? I always like to jokingly say the clouds parted, rays of light illuminated you and angels blew horns in conjunction with your crowning…ta-dah, you are now manager. Ahhhh. Then the clouds come back together, the light goes away, and the angels, well, they leave and you are left with Skippy being 20 minutes late, Todd stealing another sale and Mary states…she is “so done doing everyone else’s job”. Whoa.
When we become manager, we don’t always know what we do not know. Let that linger a moment. I say that so often and in this context, I mean to express while we may not know what we do know, we still have to react. It is precisely in these moments we begin to see what we are made of. We bring ourselves to the table. We show our “true” selves. Do we really or are we just reacting to not knowing what we should really do? Here why I say that; I am not sure who benefits most from this post. Is it the newbie manager or maybe a manager who has been in it for a while? You could argue either way. So read on and make your own decision.
Here is the focus for our time together. We bring something to the management (and leadership) equation. Someone somewhere thought we had “it”. And we are not always sure what “it” is. In some cases, it was that we were great sales people and, well, it just made sense to make us the manager. In other cases, we may have shown a very particular skill or skills in running a store or business or team. Maybe we were the ones least likely to steal or maybe the ones last left standing. Whatever reason, we are now manager. Whoo-who. Tag, we’re it. Will your team follow you? Why? Who are you? Why you?
Before you start second guessing the decision to be manager, think about your context. I am willing to guess you get the job (the business). I am also willing to guess, you understand the customer. You are probably very familiar with the team. But this is not about that stuff, it is about you…your identity as manager.
Quick question, first thing that comes to mind…what is your personal mantra? (buzzer sounds) No answer. Relax. It’s OK. The idea in asking is to provoke or illicit a response that sometimes we do not know what we are supposed to be doing in some kind of big picture, meaning of life viewpoint. We are just dealing with the day to day operations of running a store with a team of 3. I get it.
So one, take just a moment and reflect on why you chose the manager job. Why did you say ‘yes’? Why do you identify with this organization? Their culture or leadership? It is a growth thing or just a 9-5 with benefits while you look for something else? Could you tell someone what you do in a way that would make them interested enough to ask two or three more questions or will they say “meh”? I would think you know precisely why you are manager.
Two, what are your strengths? This is big. What do you bring to the table? Are you amplifying that one particular strength in a way to make you strong in your overall skills? For instance, maybe you strong at selling. You do realize that the science of selling can plug into almost anything you do in life. Engage someone, find out what they need, share solutions to be successful, clarify the action and follow up. That’s sales and it is also managing and leading a team. Are you using that strength?
Three, sometimes your identity is NOT what is in it for you but what is in it for someone else. You are manager. Your team gets that. Trust me, they do. They may not like you, but if you make it about them, they will respect you. If you are consistent, collaborative, fair, equitable, empathetic, show integrity and communicate often, they will trust you. They will follow you because you care more about what they need…over and above what you get out of it. Want to grow your business…grow your team. Want to be successful…make your team successful. Sometimes your identity is dependent on how well your team can do their job based on your skills, abilities and knowledge in getting your team doing their job. So that may mean your identity is really not about you. It is bigger than you. I am still learning that one.
What is your management identity? Maybe you are the funny manager. Or maybe you are the numbers manager. Maybe you like to do everything yourself…you know the “task hoarding manager”. Maybe your identity is tied to being your team’s best friend. The possibilities are endless. How do you want to manage…to lead? Based on what? There is no perfect management style. There is just you and your team. And the goal. So is it possible the simple answer to the question of management identity is what do you need to do to ensure your team gets what they need to get there? Wherever “there” may be.
Maybe that means, as manager and leader, we are supposed to help someone else get “there”.
“Do what you love with a passion for growing someone else and your reward will follow.” BTW…my mantra.
Cheers