How I lead

  1. Rules of managing
  2. Manager’s user manual for team

1. Rules of Managing

Only by pride cometh contention - Proverbs 13:10

* Lead by example but don't absolve responsibility.
* Delegate.
* Record all interactions, document and distribute.
* Changes to processes need solid agreement.
* Collaborate instead of dictate, but dictate when collaboration can't reach resolution.
* Conflict is a natural part of business and it's healthy. Particularly where the individuals come from different backgrounds. This allows the shaping of problems and solutions in different ways. It's important to recognize that and to share your views (that are different) in a cordial manner. Contention is usually a sign of your ego kicking in.
* In setting a new course or direction, it is often times not enough to just point and say go. It requires education, inspiration and motivation of those who are being asked to follow.

2. Manager’s User Manual

What is this

It’s the essence of how I operate as a Manager. This is not a list of rules of how I operate, but the under-current of values and thinking that guides those operations.

  • I am human
  • I am a passionate husband and father. My family is a strong focus and my inspiration.
  • I am an introvert, a creative, a change agent, potential seeker and a servant-leader.
  • An avid reader and struggling gamer, yeah 3 kids ;)
  • Truly enjoy yoga!

My approach to life is guided by 5 principals (5 BE’s):

  • Be Simple - Large doors swing on small hinges (problems)
  • Be Confident - Know you can. Trust you can. Practice so you can (attitude)
  • Be Focused - Limit the scope to whats manageable and what produces the most immediate feedback (productivity)
  • Be True - True To Self. True To Others. Seek truth in every situation as it’s the only effective way to diagnose reality (character)
  • Be Consistent - Habits done consistently produce effectivity (actions)

Four core values

  1. Radical Candour - caring for others requires candid communication.
  2. Mutual Purpose - manage the stories we tell ourselves about others. In conflict seek to understand your purpose and that of the other person.
  3. Psychological Safety - the effectiveness of our thinking relates to how we treat one another
  4. Extreme Ownership - if the team fails it’s my fault. I own the communication both up and down the chains.

How I manage

  1. I aim to set clear expectations and be direct about it’s accountability. When I fail to do so adequately, please feedback. I have a natural and genuine care for those who I am responsible for.

  2. I eagerly welcome feedback with facts, examples and/or specifics. Vice versa.

  3. If it doesn’t work, lets build a plan, or just get rid of it. I aim to do whats right. But sometimes right is not effective. If not harmful, do whats effective.

  4. Everyone desires to give their best and is sincere in what they are trying to communicate.

  5. “We don’t click” can be an emotion based on the spiralling stories we have told ourselves. Seperate the facts from the stories.

  6. I enjoy collaboration particularly with the multiplicity and diversity of minds.

  7. If you not getting to deep work, reach out, I will do my utmost to figure out how to unblock you. I am work in progress.

  8. Critical thinking is not hard and imperfect. However it is not winning, it’s weighing. Critical thinking needs to criticize something..

Areas I’m working to improve…

Switching too quickly from problem definition to problem resolution. Effecting change at a less rapid rate (at times). Understand that some people struggle with candour in both accepting and giving it. When criticism to me is given to apply silence to the process so the person being courageous can have confidence to do it again. People take time to think and to make a point / question / statement. Don’t just dismiss what their saying. Carefully and succinctly deal with it despite how insignificant it may appear to me. Don’t just talk, do. And when others beat you to it, praise and rejoice with them. Not all ideas worth pursuing, are worth pursuing well.

Ideas

Ideas sometimes need education to live and thrive.

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