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Performance Pointers Archives

If You'd Only Known

Most people stumble into management; they’re really good at being an individual contributor, they take initiative, they help others who may be struggling, they’ve developed a level of expertise in their field that has gotten them noticed. All these things get you noticed. All these things increase your value to the company, and trigger the desire to make more, and better use of your talents. Sometimes you may have even indicated to your boss that you think you’re ready for more responsibility. And when the moment comes, and someone has a development discussion with you, and offers you a bigger job, with more responsibility, and sets you on a management career path, most people are flattered and proud and eager to take on the new challenge. And before you know it, suddenly you’re a manager. And everyone is congratulating you on your promotion. And then, 3 or 6 months later, you wonder what you were thinking.

The secret to a happy life as a manager is this: you are not the star player anymore, you’re now the team’s coach. As such, it is more important that you know what your players are capable of individually, and where their strengths as a team lie, than that you can do their work. Your job is to “point them in the right direction, and then get the heck out of their way”. Phil Jackson, the Chicago Bulls’ coach during the Michael Jorden / Scottie Pippen streak of 6 consecutive NBA championships said in a FastCompany interview: “Michael’s job is to get the ball in the basket. I don’t care how he does it, whether he throws the ball, dribbles it there, or carries it in his teeth. He knows how to do his job, and I just get out of his way.” Whoever said “There is no “I” in team”, had no clue what they were talking about. Initially, there are only “I’s" on your team. And your job is to shape all these individual talents into a “We”.

There are lots of books out there that will talk about “Leadership” and “Management”. They’re not what you need. What you need is a guide for coaches; practical advice that you can apply immediately. Invest $35 in this book: “Coaching for Improved Work Performance” by Dr. Ferdinand Fournies. It will rock your world, and help you become a better manager, but above all, a better work coach. And it will make your life a lot easier!

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