During our recent Jam Sessions we reviewed several key principles and insights from the book, First, Break All The Rules. Our discussion centered on what the world’s greatest managers do differently. I have received a lot of positive feedback about that session. Here is a quick review of some key points that we discussed:
Great managers have very little in common with each other. They are of different sexes, races and ages. They use vastly different styles and they focus on different goals. The world’s greatest managers do not believe that people can overcome their weaknesses or accomplish anything they set their minds to. They consistently break the Golden Rule, and yes, in the right context, great managers do play favorites. They are Revolutionaries!!
As different and diverse as they are, there is one particularly important insight that all great managers share:
“People don’t change that much. Don’t waste so much of your time trying to put in what was left out. Try to draw out what was left in. That will be hard enough.”
Great managers know that each person is true to their unique nature. They are motivated differently; they have their own way of thinking and their own way of relating to others. They are very diverse and you should capitalize on these differences to help your team members become more of who they are.
Great managers see themselves in the “Catalyst” role. They know that talented employees need great managers. They know that employees may join a company for benefit plans or the company's reputation, but they only stay because of their relationship with their manager. Talented employees need great managers. The relationship with their manager trumps the company they work for.
So, as you work to apply the principles learned from the world’s greatest managers, the most important thing you can do is to focus on identifying the right fit for each individual’s talent and develop the person in that role. Appreciate the diversity of each of your team members and make every role, performed at excellence, a respected position.