How Did I Not See This Coming - A New Manager's Guide to Avoiding Total Disaster - Katy TynanWithin many companies, manager responsibilities are necessary to grow and advance. There are no other options available. That means a lot of people in up in roles for which they aren’t suited. The addition of leadership responsibilities requires a commitment from the individual and the company. The new manager must be willing to learn new skills and habits. The company must be there to provide support and guidance to the individual.

In her book, How Did I Not See This Coming? A New Manager’s Guide to Avoiding Total Disaster1, Katy Tynan uses a parable to walk readers through The Truth About Management.

Through a series of encounters, our protagonist learns what is required of a successful manager: Shared Vision, Team-focus, Goals, Continuous improvement, and Trust.

 

“Vision: Define the values your team shares and measure everything you do against those values.”2

Values vary throughout an organization. Determine the shared values of your team within the context of the Company’s values. Once determined, incorporate them into everything your team does. Use them as a language – a shortcut  – to communicate when you, someone else, or the team is or isn’t embracing them. Also, look at the work of the team as a whole and individually and determine what projects, tasks, etc. are aligned and which need to be addressed or terminated.

 

“Team: Know your team member’s strengths and focus on clearing the obstacles to their success.”3

Managing is about relationships. he more you understand about your direct reports, the better you can align the work they are doing with the skills at which they are successful.  Your role as a manager is to help your team members grow and develop through the work and experiences provided. You must also consider what limits their abilities to succeed in their tasks and work to remove any impediments.

 

“Goals: Focus on the outputs and recognize each successful achievement.”4

Work can be divided into four quadrants along two axes: important and urgent. The high importance and high urgency quadrant contains the work of highest priority. These projects and tasks are top of mind and are the most likely to be completed. Work in the low importance and low urgency quadrant tends to be a poor use of time. You should look for ways to stop or off-load these activities. The remaining two quadrants are a bit trickier so managers must make time to spend on those activities that fall into them. Recognizing achievements across the three priority quadrants is crucial and even more so in two quadrants where follow-through often wanes.

 

“Learn and Adapt: Develop the habit of learning from each day’s work and focus on growth, not perfection.”5

Managers will never and can never know everything. Continuous learning is key. Reflect each day on what you’ve achieved and what wasn’t achieved. Consider what could have been done differently or what needs to be rectified and set a plan to incorporate those insights into your future activities.

 

“Trust: Without trust, there is no team.”6

You can’t succeed on your own. You need others and they need you.

 

 

Like the protagonist, if you adopt and live these Truths, you can transform into an effective manager.

 

 

What are your thoughts on these Truths About Management?  What advice would you give to new or current managers?

 

1 Tynan, Katy. How did I not see this coming?: a new managers guide to avoiding total disaster. ATD Press, 2018.

2 Ibid.

3 Ibid.

4 Ibid.

5 Ibid.

6 Ibid.

 

 

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