One of the great things about writing for a blog is the opportunity to step back from your daily activities and take a bigger picture approach to worklife. Since the majority of our work focuses on developing leaders and managers, I found myself contemplating the question, “what’s one ability every manager or leader should look to develop?” This is a pretty big question and one I’m sure could inspire some debate. At the end of this post, I’d welcome your thoughts.
Be True to Yourself
Author: Diane Hamilton, Date: 10/26/2010In a recent post I talked about communication style and adaptability. I think this is one issue we have spent the most time on over the years—from the C-suite to the frontline. As mentioned previously, it is also one of the most consistent themes in 360 feedback surveys (i.e., that managers need to do a better job adapting their style to meet the needs of other people—in particular their staff and peers).
Adapting for Success
Author: Diane Hamilton, Date: 9/14/2010When communicating with others, one of the key ways to increase effectiveness is to learn how to adapt your own style to meet the needs of the other individual. I spend a lot of time coaching people on adaptability. One of the most consistent themes in 360 feedback surveys is that managers need to do a better job adapting their style to meet the needs of other people (in particular their direct reports and peers). This is a critical leadership skill. To be influential, you need to master it. (We can’t expect them to meet our needs). Successful leaders learn this early on.
