By: Mary Schaefer
Why it’s worth it to take your management skills to the next level, as a manager of people
I’ve been conducting training on manager/employee communication for years. In one class last year I heard the same phrase over and over and it really struck me.
“What I don’t want to happen is ________”
When it comes to thinking about initiating a discussion about a touchy subject, inevitably I hear some version of this. For instance,
“What I don’t want to happen is…”
- For the other person to shut down
- To not have the answers
- For them to get emotional
- For them to get mad
- For me to get mad
We do it to ourselves
I’ve been a manager and I’ve coached many managers. Over time we get to the point where we are wary of particular behavior, like the other person becoming emotional, getting defensive or playing dumb. We get psyched out by what we think will happen. In doing this, we give the other person all the power. Let me rephrase. We buy into the premise that “we are powerless” to their reaction. We disempower ourselves.
I’m going to be writing a lot more about what it means to be an Empowered manager and an Empowered professional. Today I want to leave you with this.
What’s in it for me?
10 Reasons to Be an Empowered Manager
- You respect yourself more.
- You feel more at ease and poised in any situation.
- You know you can be heard and influence others.
- Your strength and foundation of values inspires others.
- You know yourself and are realistic about your strengths and limitations.
- You know when to ask for help.
- You don’t leave a mess behind when you talk to people.
- You begin to truly enjoy your job because you feel more empowered, autonomous.
- Your employees want to do more, for themselves and the organization.
- You are asked to weigh in because you are known for your good judgment.
Are you empowering yourself? If not now, when?
This post originally appeared on Reimagine Work
