Man(ager) Overboard!

My daughter (now 11) took her first swimming class at 9 months old.

(Yeah, you read that right.)

But it’s not the type of swimming lesson you’re accustomed to.

It was done by a company called ISR, which helps kids survive IF they accidentally fall into a pool.

Translation: teaching you how to survive (strokes not included).

It was a very expensive program, but meant to give parents peace of mind.

You may be asking, wait what does that have to with leadership?!

Understand that managers are just trying to survive.

One of the most difficult and criticized roles at any company.

Easy to critique from the sidelines, but tough your ego when you’re inside the ropes.

Most managers are promoted because they are strong individual contributors, yet the skill set they got recognized for won’t serve them as a leader.

So what can you do if your company doesn’t invest in manager training?

Today I’m sharing 3 proactive ways to get better as a manager (or offer help to your manager)

1. Seek mentors.

Identify people within the company and outside you can learn from.

The reality is most companies aren’t set up to train new managers.

Therefore you have to take matters into your own hands.

Observe leaders who are respected, talked about positively and develop people consistently.

What you really want is a coach in your corner.

2. A good coach won’t tell you what to do.

They will ask you questions ahead of time to prepare you to solve the problem you’ll face in the future.

Asking the right questions unlocks the right answers.

Why?

Because you’re more willing to follow through with your own ideas versus when someone else tells you what to do.

Coaches help you take ownership of your decisions.

3. Confidence is the x-factor that great leaders possess.

It doesn’t mean you’re confident in every area, but confident enough to find the answers you need.

As a coach, I always tell potential clients considering hiring me to judge me on two factors.

1. If we don’t have chemistry, find someone else.

2. If you have confidence in my ability to get you to the next level, hire me.

That’s why it’s so crucial for managers to be coaches.

A coach creates the optimal environment for their team by leveraging individual strengths.

When you help others thrive, you as a leader begin to thrive.

In order to transition from surviving to thriving as a leader you have to take charge for your own growth.

When employers tell you to “figure it out” by their actions, it’s time for you to step up by:

• Asking for help.

• Finding mentors.

• Serving others.

The best leaders don’t rely on anyone else besides themselves to supercharge their development.

I urge you to take that responsibility today.

My friend Katie and me tackled the subject of survival in last week’s LinkedIn Live (you can view it by clicking the image below).

Reply to this email for additional help or check out my 3 most requested talks here.

God Bless,

Scott