When your direct reports are overwhelmed and think you aren’t doing enough to help them with their workload, it is an indication that you are missing a fundamental managerial skill.
Here are some more indications that you haven’t mastered this skill:
- You look upon questions from your people as “interruptions.”
- Instead of teaching your direct reports to work properly, you fix their mistakes.
- You don’t take the ownership of the success of your direct reports.
- You keep away from their challenges and failures.
As a first level manager, you need to change your mental paradigm
You are no more an individual contributor. In order to help your direct reports, you have to pay close attention to what is getting done and how is it getting done. You have to ask questions to find out what’s getting in the way of completing daily tasks.
Don’t just take notes
The information gleaned out of these questions should be translated into a balanced feedback. Give a pat on the back frequently.
The simplest skill is – just being available
As an individual contributor you never valued this skill. Being available is more of an attitude rather than just keeping your door open. People can sense when you are approachable just by looking at your body language. Make yourself available physically and emotionally.
Follow these tips and you will be able to unclog your First Level Leadership skills.
