Signs of greying hair from what remains and you hear questions you used to ask, being asked from you. Having been fortunate to report to about 8 different reporting managers for a broader experience, it is time to reflect on some of the qualities that caught my attention:
The guru: Always up to date, constantly reading, preparing and practicing for consulting challenges.
The listener: Gives you the time to formulate thoughts into sentences and listens without any hint of judgment. Listening to understand as opposed listening to respond. When done right, you would realize the fickle nature of the questions years down the line. Fickel yet part of the growing process.
Alfred (Batman's butler): Stays with the team, be it guiding, yawning or sleeping. Sticking around as long as possible avoiding leaving the team pulling an all-nighter.
The work-life balance advocate: Took me by surprise once, when asked to join a hike after work amidst all the deliverables at hand. Not a word about work during the hike and a complete context change during dinner. Separation and focus are hard to master, but indeed mandatory.
The expectation setter: One round of checks in the morning, setting expectations and desired outcomes. This quality along with the mental ability to have a hierarchical map of the issues preventing the reports getting to the deliverables is a top quality. This also allows other aspects of life to avoid the back burner.
The cucumber: Calm yet focused, be it a smooth sailing or a shit has hit the fan situation.
Barricade stormer: Aircover provider when the main task at hand is suffering due to too many requests, mixed up priorities or the inexperience of reports.
The balancing act: One hell of a unique characteristic that thinks, speaks and acts in an honest balance between the interests of the organization, client and the team.
Pep talker: 1-minute conversations with the right words to get you going. "You are the expert in the room, start acting like it", "fake it till you make it", "don't over promise. over deliver". etc.
Sensei: Knows the clear definition between delegation and passing the ball. Puts you into situations a little ahead of yourself, let's you figure it out but provides a clear channel for SOS calls.
The lifter: The amazing quality of providing constructive feedback and encouragement to incorporate them going forward. Anything from an email or code review to suggestions for an issue. Guiding towards the solution but making it feel like you came up with it in the first place! The - teach a man to fish as opposed to giving him a fish approach. Building better troops and making their own life easier.
Every report and manager has their own battles and circumstances. This is just a compilation of what struck me as qualities. Good things should be practiced and passed on.
The guru: Always up to date, constantly reading, preparing and practicing for consulting challenges.
The listener: Gives you the time to formulate thoughts into sentences and listens without any hint of judgment. Listening to understand as opposed listening to respond. When done right, you would realize the fickle nature of the questions years down the line. Fickel yet part of the growing process.
Alfred (Batman's butler): Stays with the team, be it guiding, yawning or sleeping. Sticking around as long as possible avoiding leaving the team pulling an all-nighter.
The work-life balance advocate: Took me by surprise once, when asked to join a hike after work amidst all the deliverables at hand. Not a word about work during the hike and a complete context change during dinner. Separation and focus are hard to master, but indeed mandatory.
The expectation setter: One round of checks in the morning, setting expectations and desired outcomes. This quality along with the mental ability to have a hierarchical map of the issues preventing the reports getting to the deliverables is a top quality. This also allows other aspects of life to avoid the back burner.
The cucumber: Calm yet focused, be it a smooth sailing or a shit has hit the fan situation.
Barricade stormer: Aircover provider when the main task at hand is suffering due to too many requests, mixed up priorities or the inexperience of reports.
The balancing act: One hell of a unique characteristic that thinks, speaks and acts in an honest balance between the interests of the organization, client and the team.
Pep talker: 1-minute conversations with the right words to get you going. "You are the expert in the room, start acting like it", "fake it till you make it", "don't over promise. over deliver". etc.
Sensei: Knows the clear definition between delegation and passing the ball. Puts you into situations a little ahead of yourself, let's you figure it out but provides a clear channel for SOS calls.
The lifter: The amazing quality of providing constructive feedback and encouragement to incorporate them going forward. Anything from an email or code review to suggestions for an issue. Guiding towards the solution but making it feel like you came up with it in the first place! The - teach a man to fish as opposed to giving him a fish approach. Building better troops and making their own life easier.
Every report and manager has their own battles and circumstances. This is just a compilation of what struck me as qualities. Good things should be practiced and passed on.
