We can all think of things that people can do better with- it's human nature to seek out some of the negative things in others. But how often to we reflect on our behaviors, especially us managers, and truly drill down on the specific areas that need improvement. Often times, the hardest part about this process is beginning the self-reflection. Ask yourself these questions to gauge whether or not you're living up to your full potential as an influential manager:
- Have I been fully engaged at work today?
- What are some issues that frequently come up at work, and why do they frequently occur?
- What does my communication style say about me? Do people respond in a positive or negative manner most frequently?
- How open and honest am I with my employees and other coworkers?
- Did I come in and work to the highest potential today?
- Do I hold myself to the same standards as I do others?
- Have I created a fun, cooperative, supportive environment at work today?
Now- we can't always answer positively to these questions every day. Sometimes we have off days, sometimes there are outside factors influencing our behaviors. HOWEVER- we must stay diligent to upholding a positive, supportive environment that fosters coaching and collaboration EVERY SINGLE DAY. How will you, as a manager, check yourself back into this mindset if you feel yourself slipping or disengaging? Perhaps you and other managers should develop some sort of accountability measures in order to do so, or even better- communicate this mindset with your employees. To know that we are all human and all have flaws is something that we tend to gloss over in the workplace. Remember that we all have things we can work on, but power dynamics place more pressure on managers to be diligent with improvement.
Are you interested in seeing how to become a better manager that incorporates coaching into your workplace? Check out our free webinar to learn more about creating that open and honest environment.
