Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

It’s a funny thing about us human beings and by extension; managers. It seems like we are always surprised by something that happens that we feel totally unprepared for. No matter how many times it happens, things go smoothly for a while and bang! There it is again, caught off guard by unforeseen circumstances.

There is a way to deal with this that will take away all surprise forever. It’s really simple when you think of it.

Here’s the secret:

You do not have any control over anything that happens on the job or in life.

Once you completely embrace that, you will be surprised and shocked at how things that happen at work don’t surprise you anymore or catch you off balance.

This is why top-down hierarchies never work. They attempt to eliminate anything that could possibly go wrong and as a result can destroy the workers, the process and eventually the company while attempting to eliminate all possibilities that can come their way.

Does this mean that we are all helpless victims? No, on the contrary, it’s empowering because then you can focus on getting the job done and flowing with life as it happens, rather than trying to contain it in a box.

Does this contradict putting systems in place that can enhance product development and employee success? Again, absolutely not. The thing to remember is that no matter what is in place, things will never be perfect. We can only continuously improve.

But as managers, we can embrace uncertainty as a challenge rather than dread the next thing that can go wrong and try to anticipate every possible contingency. That will drive us to almost psychotic impulses and behaviors.

The whole issue is to learn to live with uncertainty and realize that you can learn to live comfortably while not knowing what is going to come around the corner next.

It is here that separates average managers from great managers. Great managers will be ready to handle what comes their way by flowing with that which is thrown at them. Average managers are always walking around in crises mode, never quite getting a handle on what’s going on around them.

I heard a saying just last night while watching something on television, they said in reference to someone in management: “they may be in charge, but they aren’t in control.”

That is the difference between great and average. A title doesn’t give you control. And no matter what title someone may have, it’s those that are in control that are really in charge, whether they have a title or not.