Ask Your Employees

Here’s a question for you: do you want to be a better manager? Wait a second before you answer that question and think very carefully. Do you REALLY want to become a better manager? If so, it stands to reason that you would be willing to change the things that are preventing you from being the best manager you could be, wouldn’t you agree?

Hmmm. Didn’t consider you might need to change?

In business, as in other parts of our lives, we often want to be successful, but when it comes right down to it, we are often unwilling to make the changes that would create the success we desire. Why is that? Why do we allow ourselves to invent reasons why we CAN’T or WON’T change if, after all, the change would make us better at something?

But we know the answer to this one, don’t we?
Change is hard. It’s painful. It can be unpleasant. We may have to admit that we have flaws. We may have to confront the ugly truth about our weaknesses.

Well, here’s the deal. If we want to get better as managers, we have to be willing to be vulnerable to criticism – and that is exactly what keeps most of us from achieving our potential as managers. And the fact of the matter is that, if you really want to know how to improve as a manager, you need to ask someone. Ask your employees. Ask the other managers in the company. Ask your boss.

You can only improve as a manager when 1) you know what needs to be improved, 2) you are willing to make changes, and 3) you identify someone who can help you make the needed changes. In this case, I’m talking about specific skills that may need to be addressed, and you may need specific training to address those skills – like communication or resolving conflict or planning skills.

On the other hand, here is a quick way to get the low-down on some things you might be able to change just because you’ve picked up some bad habits along the way. Meet individually with the employees that report directly to you, and ask them to help you by answering these three questions:

1. What am I doing now that I need to stop doing?
2. What am I not doing now that I need to start doing?
3. What am I doing now that works well for you and I need to continue doing?

In many cases, this conversation with your employees will yield some excellent ideas and some very productive feedback that will make you a better manager.

Assuming you have the courage to ask. And make the changes.