This week it’s all about you.  Let’s recognise that the most difficult part of our job is often the people element, trying to manage relationships and get good performance from our individuals and teams. 

Because this is the case, it’s worth saying “I’m trying different things and seeing what works and what doesn’t, and that is the best way to learn how to be a good leader”.

What works for you and your team is different to what works for another team or in another organisation.  So you can only learn by doing. 

To keep your energy levels up so you feel motivated to keep trying things as a people manager, remember these points.

·           Managing people is not easy, they are complex, they change every day, it is difficult to find the right mix and the right balance of leadership that will work for an individual in your team, let alone the collective of individuals in your team.  So make an effort and keep trying.  That’s what is the distinction between somebody who’s a successful leader and someone who isn’t so good.

·           We are aiming for progress, not perfection.  Try not to think that you need to be the best people manager there is, or the best leader that anyone’s ever seen.  The objective is to keep moving forward and keep improving.  Progress things and you’ll get the results you want.

·           Let yourself off the hook.  You’re human the same as other leaders.  You’ll do some things that on reflection you’ll say “hang on that wasn’t such a good thing to do”,  “that didn’t work so well”.  But be objective, step back and learn from that experience, and don’t give yourself a hard time and feel guilty about it.  That will prevent you from learning and moving forward and improving and becoming a better leader.

So try and keep your energy levels up this week, try different things, but do take time to stop and say “I’m doing a good job, well done”.

If you haven’t taken the opportunity to sign up to the Every Tuesday Club with MBE (Management & Business Education), then do so today by going to www.buseducation.com.