Managing Others Starts with Managing Yourself

Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy. ~Lao Tzu

Fundamental question, which every leader must ask is: “Do I manage myself properly?”. This is necessary condition to have ability to manage the others. Self-management defined as “methods, skills, and strategies by which individuals can effectively direct their own activities toward the achievement of objectives” should be key responsibility for every leader.

The best way to make this is life fully and be consistent with your own values and believes.  This internal integrity is a good prognosis for getting people trust, for achieving goals and to have a feeling of fulfillment. It helps to develop a respect and stimulating working enviroment. If in addition you can listen, you are on the right way to build solid base to your personal growth, growth of the members of your team and growth of your business.

It is trivia, but you have to find happiness in the job you have. Find it now. Or change the job. It is not utopia. It is a must. Life is too short to do things which you do not like or want to do. Life is too precious to manage it wrong. And as leaders we are responsible for creating the environment which get the best from team members. The good thing is, that to get the best from your people is easy. You have to give them the best from you. To be able to do it, you have to manage your life the best way possible.

The beauty of this idea is, that every of us will find own way to do it. But every of us must find courage to follow this path.

Related articles:

What’s Your Story? How Personal Narratives Impact Leadership by Robert S. Kaplan

12 Rules for Self-Management by Rosa Say

 

Be Idealist. It Makes Life Easier.

What a man can be, he must be. ~Abraham Maslov

Douglas R. Conant in his article “The Power of Idealistic-Realism: How Great Leaders Inspire and Transform” is proclaiming, that that idealism and realism are the two leadership attributes that truly inspire and mobilize people.  I want to focus on the first part of this duo – Idealism.

The roots of the word idealism comes via idea from the Greek idein (ἰδεῖν), meaning “to see”.  What leaders must “to see”? The core purpose of leadership is to see and explore potential in every member of the team. So this is the first thing to see. Potential of your people.

Idealism is giving people deeper motivation to work. I think that the source of this deeper motivation is self-actualization achieved by finding a higher idea. “What a man can be, he must be”. Work with a greater idea makes leader life easier. First, it help to communicate the vision of the company. Secondly great ideas appeal great people. That is why John Sculley become Apple’s CEO. Because he has a chance to change the world, not only to sell sugared water.

Idealism can also help to see new opportunities. If you know what is your vision, your senses and business instinct are naturally focused on all new potential of growing business. It helps also to take strategic decisions what company do (or what not to do).

Idealism keep higher ethic standards in every organisation. Idealist does not cheat. He is focused on fulfilling his own mission. By this action he is creating value for organisation. This is next meaning of leadership – creating values by self-actualization organisation members. Above all, every good creation – artistic, business – is about creating something that you are proud of.

Idealism helps to keep open and honest communication. Internal and external ones. It is like a needle of the compass pointing the right direction.

But idealism can be (in some cases) also danger to organisation. If it change to so call idealism trap. When idea itself is consuming more efforts than bringing results it is possible, that idea instead of being “Great Idea” is only a way to cover incompetence, laziness and other common company disease. A true values must stand behind every vision. It must not be only a PR slogan. To fulfill the idea with values, among other factors, company need people who want, not must. Which a realistic optimists. Which “can see” and act. Which love what they are doing. I believe, that idealists will change the our world for better place.

Creativity – Key Factor for Successful Business

Business has to exercise your creative instincts. ~Richard Branson

For centuries creativity was attribute of artists. In last 30 years importance of creativity in a context of business activities increased dramatically. Today creativity is highly required skill not only in marketing department but also in engineering or finance professions. Mentioning creativity in finances I do not mean a Tyco or Enron way of “being creative in finance”.

Today we are knowing, that creativity is rather skill not a gift. Modern theories of creativity are trying to  find and answer to question “Why some people are more creative than others?”. These theories are describing creativity as process. Well, and who better than managers know how to manage, improve and re-engineer processes?

To understand how to support creativity, still rare asset in many companies, let’s have a look what conditions are favourable to allow creativity grow.

One of the myths is telling that people are creative working under stress. The truth is that there is direct relation between emotions and creativity. Positive emotions increasing creativity while negative ones decreasing. What it means for us? Well, we can create an organisation culture which is based on positives, not negatives. Promoting working environment full of positive emotions we get creativity as a bonus. More over, such organisations naturally attracting better workers. It is proven, that people who are realistic optimists are performing much better than pessimists.

Second thing which we as managers can do to support creativity in our organisation is to support cultural variety. This is natural catalyst for creativity. Different people are looking at the same problem from different perspective. It starts creative thinking process in other member of the team.

The next step after employing creative people, support creative environment is to make sure that organisation is able to manage creative teams. To be successful in this tasks organisations must understand benefits from being creative. Among many others I will mention two biggest benefits for every organisation. First of all creative approach (in every aspects of business activities) helps differentiate. Next benefit for promoting creative behavior can be treated like insurance against unexpected. When the crisis situation come (which is only question of time) creative teams will find better ways how to manage crisis.  This will make every organisation stronger – people will believe that what ever future will bring, they have a creative skill to manage this.

Recipe for success will be to integrate creativity in your business models. Create conditions conducive for creativity. Once it is done, you will never regret. Because creativity is a key factor for successful business; and we are all creative.

Related articles:

Getting Down to the Business of Creativity by Julia Hanna

The 6 Myths Of Creativity by Bill Breen

The Role Of Creativity In Business  by Nick Rice

6 Steps to Achieving Creativity in Business, Personal Life by Deborah Kotz