Nature or Nurture…Good Managers are Born and Bred

Sure, there are people that were born to lead.  We all know them. We’re drawn to them for their charisma, their intellect, their passion, their ability to bring people together and get results. These people know from an early age that they are destined for big things. It comes naturally to them. And they usually don’t disappoint.

If this describes you, congratulations!  You hit the genetic jackpot. Even if you’re not quite sure of a career direction yet, you know wherever you land success will follow. One of your greatest attributes is your confidence and it will take you far up the leadership ladder.

But biology and pedigree aren’t the only factors to make a great leader. Surely you’ve heard plenty about what qualities describe an effective manager. You’ve likely read articles and/or books about management. In fact, if this career path appeals to you, you might have even studied it in college. So you should know all about the fundamentals like communication skills, time management, organization and conflict resolution and we don’t need to rehash them here.

There are also several learned behaviors that most anyone with the right motivation can use to cultivate their management skills.

• Fearlessness.  Managers must be comfortable with risk.  If you lack that resilience, get on the roller coaster, walk the bridge, hold the snake; or whatever you need to conquer your personal fears.
• Creativity.  Usually, it’s not a straight line from departure point to destination.  The best paths are taken by managers that have vision and encourage resourcefulness.  Get in touch with your inner artist, chef, musician or author.  Inspire imagination.
• Tolerance.  Patience is necessary to successfully deal with people and with the stresses that inherently come with a higher position.  If your feathers get easily ruffled, start practicing yoga now.  Your team and your customers will look to you for calming energy.
• Objectivity.Favorites should be reserved for ice cream flavors or pizza toppings.  They should never come into play with employees or customers.  You must be neutral and impartial.  You are Switzerland.
• Adaptability.  Creating policies, and ensuring they’re maintained, is inevitable but if you lack the ability to be flexible when it’s appropriate, you will alienate yourself.  You want to be known as firm but fair, not rigid.
• Relatability.  People are pretty keen.  They can usually see through someone who pretends to be something they’re not.  Be yourself and encourage this from your team – embrace the unique qualities of the people you manage.

 

The Benefits of Working for an Established AND Entrepreneurial Company

Webster’s defines an entrepreneur as a person who organizes and manages any enterprise – especially a business – usually with considerable initiative and risk.

Many conventional companies tout an “entrepreneurial culture” hoping to evoke a sense of workplace fun and freedom.  But be careful.  Often, their somewhat progressive thinking is limited to one or two departments, like marketing or R&D.  This is a start, but it disregards diversity.  After all, shouldn’t businesses hire talent and intellect for more than just these few departments?  A truly entrepreneurial company knows that inspiration can come from an accountant, a delivery driver or the head of human resources.In an entrepreneurial start-up, employees must be comfortable with ambiguity while simultaneously being imaginative on the fly, tracking monthly profits (or losses) and ordering the sandwiches for the lunch meeting.  While this certainly sounds exciting for the thrill seeker, and can lead to a high degree of personal ownership in the company, what can people do who want to spread their innovative wings without riding the roller coaster every minute of every day?

Traditional companies are also mired down in a lot of routine, process and bureaucracy.  While some of this is necessary for the business to survive, too much will get in the way.  Days filled with checklists, review committees, chains of command and marathon meetings create a climate of corporate micromanagement.  They hinder creativity and independence, elements necessary for entrepreneurial performance.  And when people feel stifled they are less likely to perform at all, let alone feel comfortable enough to find their inner big ideas.

But there is good news for career seekers!  There are established businesses that foster an environment of creative collaboration and helpful structure; and you don’t have to leave the country or even move to Silicon Valley to find them.  They are in every type of industry from agriculture to plumbing to technology…and in between.  These companies encourage empowerment.  They embrace people’s differences and understand that supporting varied perspectives leads to profitability.  They offer employees the advantages of an entrepreneurial start-up – autonomy, mission, purpose, adaptability – within a proven framework of support that helps to absorb some of the risk.  So you, as the employee, get the benefit of wrapping a security blanket around an extraordinary opportunity to define your future.  And, in companies like these, you can gain the highest level of career fulfillment because you know there are contingencies for reasonable failure while, on the flipside, your passion and ambition directly impact your success.

Click here for the Top 10 Demands of Successful Entrepreneurs from GALLUP Business Journal^TM.