Often when a person is promoted to a new position, as a manager or boss, they begin the job confidently; excited for the future, and motivated to put in their best efforts continuously. In the world of business, however, such a position can also bring feelings of frustration, disillusionment, or even helplessness; as initiatives may not run as expected, employees may not be performing as they should – and the long list of problems is often blamed on leadership.
Many managers or bosses start out great, but slowly decline over time and get stuck in one place, unable to progress. Why? Because they stopped working on themselves.
If you’re experiencing this as a manager or boss, here are some factors to consider:
Introspection
New managers often start out ready to adapt and receptive to feedback – they want to be the best that they can be. However, once their initial need to prove themselves has passed, they often settle into complacency, let things slide, or get lazy – managing, but not really excelling.
How can you solve this? Take the time to ask yourself daily “How good of a boss am I?”, “Can I do better?” and “How can I do better?” Asking yourself the hard questions, and admitting the honest answers will go a long way in keeping the edge you had in the beginning.
Understanding
To be the best manager or boss you can be, you must first take time to understand what makes an exceptional manager. Many people underestimate the time and effort it takes to continually be evolving, changing and growing into their best version. Too often people give up along the way, either thinking that they have already arrived, or unwilling to put in the effort that it takes to reach the destination.
Priorities
No matter how organized a person you might be, there are always unexpected factors that can arise and throw everything into chaos. In the ever-evolving world of business, there are always new things to be learned and carried out that you, as the boss, need to stay on top of if you want to keep your company running successfully. To deal with all this, you need to have a very clear sense of what is important and what is needed to get you where you want to go. When you have the foundation laid clearly, you can fit in the other pieces as they come.
Managing Yourself
It’s impossible to manage others successfully unless you have learned how to manage yourself. Your relationships with others show who you are. Do people feel they can trust you and depend on you? Do they see you working hard? Do they see you open to feedback and constructive criticism? Do they see you as calm and in control? Do they see you as a problem-solver? Great bosses inspire confidence in those who work under them and influence them for the better; increasing their productivity.
