Where Does Leadership Begin?

Looking back on many conversations with managers over time, I came to understand that it certainly doesn't start when you're appointed manager.

Why?

Well, when you start "performing" as a manager, you should already know what to do. Or so it is expected of you. There are companies where you are allowed to grow (sometimes fast, because there is no time to wait), you have a vote of confidence at the beginning, people understand you and tolerate your awkwardness or mistakes.

But the pressure of the day is telling, and sometimes newly promoted managers don't have the time or the "credit" they need in the first place to get started. It's like starting a new business.

You can't expect everything to work perfectly from the start. Fortunately, the similarities with the new business I would stop here. I say fortunately because if you can't train entrepreneurs in a formal school - that's the entrepreneur's idea, it's the antithesis of the formal, of the planned man who doesn't go out of style - you can help a manager before he becomes manager to train certain skills.

When discussing this topic with various managers during my training sessions, the question often arises: "Okay, but how do you allow a non-manager employee to practice managerial skills?", "Who does he practice when he has no subordinates? ? "

"The answer is blowing 'in the wind," says Bob Dylan. Yes, the answer is floating around. And I would start from the following perspective: in sports dance, you first learn the steps alone and then practice them in pairs. In certain martial arts (those that involve self-defense and redirecting the opponent's attack, not blocking it), practitioners first learn to (re) find balance. And the list goes on.

Perhaps it is obvious to some that before you lead others, you should be able to lead yourself. And if it's obvious, how come they don't even practice it? You end up being promoted without anyone teaching you how to lead yourself.

You are sent to leadership classes on how to lead others, without being asked if you know how to lead yourself. You are taught methods of influencing, setting goals, how to give feedback or encourage … others. Before you are trained enough in this.

When do you set aside time for yourself?

I brought this moment of dilemma into the conversations with the managers I had in class. Some have given me dizzying answers to the question: when do you spend time personally, get to know each other, and develop your leadership skills? I could summarize their answers in a parable that sounds something like this:

A traveler was making his way through a forest, eager to get to his destination as soon as possible. After a while of facing the cliffs with great effort, he thought he saw a light, and the thought of a pause crept into his mind.

Step by step, he got closer and closer to what looked like a glade that the sun was enveloping in its rays. As the glade out of his eyes and the thought of a moment's breath outlined him, he heard the jerky sound of a saw grow louder and louder.

Entering the clearing, the unspoken question was confirmed: a man was cutting wood in the clearing. From a distance, he seemed to be absorbed in his work and seemed to put in a lot of effort, which intrigued the traveler. So you decide to find out what's going on there.

Arriving near the woodcutter, he noticed that he was cutting wood with a saw with blunt teeth, which required extra effort. At that moment the cutter saw him and, without stopping to cut, greeted him. Our man returned the greeting and, in a voice trying to cover the noise, asked the woodcutter:

• Don't be upset, I notice you are cutting wood with a blunt saw. Why are you doing this? Wouldn't it help if you sharpen your teeth and then continue to cut wood?

The traveler's answer left him speechless:

• I don't have time to hide my teeth, because I have to cut wood … "

How to lead yourself

If, however, you are not in the category of those who do not have time to prepare because they have to work (sic!) Or if you are aware that you are doing this and want to change something about yourself, it might be interesting to see which of the following you can put into practice immediately.