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Leaders And Managers: How Would Your Team Describe You?
When people go for a job interview it is pretty commonplace to be asked how others would describe you. In the interview you probably trot out a good answer that ticks the boxes in the mind of the interviewer.
The trouble is, beyond the interview situation few people ever really give much thought to this question and this is a lost opportunity.
The question is great in many ways:
- It gets to the heart of the type of leader that you want to be.
- It shapes how you interact with others, behave, set an example and go about undertaking your role as a leader.
- It keeps you constantly conscious of what it is that makes you perform at your best.
- It gives you a marker or frame of reference against which you can check before getting into a difficult conversation or making a difficult decision.
When your team is asked this question I guess that you and most leaders and managers would like to hear things like:
- They are highly supportive of me and the team.
- They encourage us to try new things and provide the safety net to allow us to do this.
- They are approachable and I can go to them if I have a struggle.
- They are honest with me.
- I trust them completely.
- They are a great role model and someone from whom I can learn.
By contrast, few leaders or managers would like to hear the following:
- They are totally autocratic and never involve us. They might best be described as the Nike boss who says “Just Do It”.
- They put excessive demands on the team and we feel like we are collapsing under the weight.
- The only person that matters to them is themselves.
- They take all the glory when things go well and never acknowledge the contribution of others.
- They blame and try to pass the buck when things go wrong.
And here is the good news. You get to determine for what you have a reputation as a leader or manager. So what choices will you make?
Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professional people become great leaders and managers. Sign up for his free audio e-course Leadership Success at www.goalsandachievements.co.uk.
About the Author Duncan Brodie
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.