Do you remember your first management job? I do, but for all the wrong reasons! When I was 18, I was put in charge of a summer recreational sailing program. It sounds like a dream job, right? It was a nightmare. My friends who had so recently been my peers were more interested in socializing than working and didn’t appreciate my attempts to corral them. They were dismissive and disengaged. I transformed into an overbearing micromanager. We couldn’t wait for the summer to be over, and I swore I would never take on another management role again.
After two decades in the workforce, observing managers, studying leadership theory, and practicing the craft of leading teams and organizations, I learned a few things. These days I work with individuals and organizations to make the transition to management a smoother, easier process.
In 2017, ATD conducted a survey to understand what managers need to know and do to be successful. They found five key skill areas that are essential elements of management:
- Accountability
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Engagement
- Listening and Assessing
At the ATD South Central Chapters Conference, I’ll be facilitating an immersive, interactive session to explore how these five skills come together to create a high-performing environment. We’ll dig into the results of the survey, and talk about practical strategies for working with managers to develop these skills.
I hope you’ll join me in the session, so we can learn together, and make sure every new manager has the support they need to succeed!