There’s no “I” in Team
Henry Ford said, “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” Do not try to fool yourself… because you can’t manage a business on your own. As a manager, you need to assemble and develop a team of capable and trustworthy employees. A solid team gives you the freedom to focus on making your business a success. Additionally, they will strive to achieve personal success which will, in turn, make the team even stronger.
Just Let Go
Control is a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you retain control of various aspects of your business and always know what’s going on. Do you really? A study done by Life Science (http://www.livescience.com/2493-mind-limit-4.html) says our mind can focus on a maximum of four things at once with a level of success. Hmm… 1. What’s for lunch today? 2. I need to get the oil in the car changed and the tires rotated. 3. Where are those monthly revenue figures Jones was supposed to give me? 4. There is a meeting in two hours and I still need to finish the proposal. That is just what is on your mind, but your responsibility does not stop there, does it?
Realistically, we can say that numbers one and two will end soon enough and two more tasks will replace them. Thinking you have it all under control, you end up working late, missing deadlines, and falling behind. Hence the curse. Some things are within your control; others give you the illusion you are. Focus on the tasks within your control and evaluate the importance of those which are not. Doing it on your own may seem possible, but in the business world it takes a team to truly succeed.
Where Did They Get ALL THAT TIME?!
How many times have you heard the expression “We all have the same 24 hours in a day?” Have you ever noticed that some people seem to accomplish so much it almost seems like they’ve got an extra hour or two? Great managers understand that time is valuable for everyone, especially themselves. They trust the ability of the team they have. As a manager, you also must trust in your team’s capabilities. Instead of contemplating the refusal of a new project, take a moment to gather the necessary information. Then bring your team together and delegate tasks to those members whose strengths will be most useful. Finally, have faith in the team you chose to get the job done.
Get by with a Little Help from your Friends
There is no shame in admitting you need help; everyone needs help. Put away your ego and reach out to your colleagues. Network with other departments in your organization and leverage them when needed. Reach out to those that have walked the path before you. Everyone likes to feel needed. In addition, it is natural to want to help a friend. Kind words have power so use them, both in the office and out. Be willing to be there for others in their time of need. Teamwork goes both ways. Your success, and the success of your business, depends on it.
Being a great manager means being a great leader. The only way to be a great leader is to lead with integrity, which can be defined as “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.” Who do you know that fits this description? We all have at least one person who seems to make all decisions based on a certain moral code. Is that person you? Ask yourself how you would want others to think of you and be that person. Most of all, lead by example and raise the bar for both your team and yourself.