First time Managers: Be Authentic
In this interview Ralph Awad, our Director of Cloud Operations here at Calabrio, talks about his #1 tip for first time managers.
Lead Authentically
First time managers need to focus on being authentic. Actually, before you accept a leadership role you should ask yourself do you really want to be a manager? Do you have the natural traits of leadership? The answer is probably yes because someone saw potential and handed you something but make certain your answer is yes. If so then be authentic by:
- Know who you are- What are your strengths and weaknesses? What sorts of work do you enjoy? What type of work do you try and avoid? How do you handle stress? How do you mentor and share knowledge or expertise? When faced with conflict how do you react?
- Know what your core values are- What do you value in colleagues? What kind of teams do you like being a member of? What expectation are unnegotiable?
- Put together a tentative plan on how you will lead team- What sort of structures do you want? What kind of relationship do you envision with your team members? How will you treat positive and negative feedback?
Authenticity Unlocks Human’s Potential
The base all relationship is trust and trust comes directly from authenticity. Trust translates into positive frictions so your team members can speak their mind, can give direction and advice, and not be afraid to speak up when there is an issue. Leaders realize they are not the smartest person in the room. (And even if they were) the collect knowledge of the room is much more powerful. Ultimately it unleashes the human potential in the team. Everyone can bring what they do best and as a result you’ll meet your business objectives.