Practice makes…
by Miki SaxonPractice makes, if not for perfection (I haven’t heard that anyone’s managed perfect outside of their own mind, that is), certainly for improvement.
Practice has the power to improve athletic performance, singing, playing games/instruments/cards, sex, creativity, management, leadership—the list is never-ending. Any actions/activities large or small will benefit from practice.
Managers need to practice managing, both for the benefit of their organization and betterment of their reviews. To that end I’m listing five big basics (they may not sound basic, but they are) for you to practice, and, although you may not get them perfect, if you don’t practice them, you won’t “get” them at all.
- Listening and hearing, or hearing and listening, if you prefer.
- Walking your talk.
- Communicating—not just saying what you want/think, but saying it in ways that your people can hear.
- Not killing the messenger.
- Celebrating breakthroughs and failures.
How long do you need to practice before the value kicks in and you start reaping your rewards? That depends on how you fill in the blank space in this sentence:
I need to practice the big basics diligently for a minimum of ____ months.
Choose 1, 2, 3, 6, or 12 based on your current management style, recognizing that the further your current style is from the basics the higher the number you must choose.
The good news for those with a high number is that you’ll see some of the largest gains—once your people start trusting the “new you.”