When my team gifted me a coffee mug with ‘World’s Best Boss’ written on it for my 38th birthday, I reflected on how long it had taken me to earn that title — 13 years, 11 months, and 15 days.
From a clueless 24 year old who was given a team to manage on Day 1 of his work life to a 38 year old leadership coach who is deeply respected by his team, life has come a long way.
Here’s what I learnt along the way and if it makes sense, feel free to try:
- Keep it real – about yourself, about the org and about life
Your team not only can take it but prefers it over a rosy picture.
- Model the way
Your team does what you do, not what you say or ask them to do.
- Care genuinely
Not because it gets the job done but because it’s your responsibility as a leader; genuinely is the key word, people see through sooner or later.
- Be humble
Your position today is a result of some of your hard work and lots of luck (birth lottery, nurture and contributions of people around you); the position will be forgotten, the person will be remembered.
- Stay emotionally regulated
You might not win something big with this but will certainly avoid big losses. Practice the pause and get back with a response, not a reaction.
- Smile and have fun (most important)
Create a workplace your team looks forward to coming to rather than getting anxious on Sunday nights.
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