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

Last post we talked about Warren Buffett's insight into how to become a great manager. The two critical things he said were identifying what your passion is, and second, finding the right environment.

Finding the right environment isn't something talked about nearly as much as finding our passion is. But if we have a passion,  which is then expressed in a company with an environment that doesn't fit us, we are going to be in a state of continuous frustration.

That's the major point I want to focus on in this post. There are many times in business leadership where people are not only frustrated with their work, but they aren't able to identify the reason why.

In these cases, we need to take a careful look at if the culture and makeup of the company fits the type of social being we are. There are certain places that we just won't fit into, no matter how hard we try; we're just not wired for that type of environment.

This doesn't mean the company is wrong or you're wrong, but it does mean that you will never feel at home there.

If you're performing your job well, and aren't having anything more than the normal rubbing you'd have with the workers and managers around you, but still feel disatisfied, you may need to step back and look at the company you work in.

Do they represent your values, or at least are they close to yours? Does the way they operate coincide with your personality type? Do you prefer a more open or closed work place?

Look at your past and see where it is you've felt the most comfortable when in social situations. What types of situations have you thrived in, and which ones did you struggle in? Are there similarities in your workplace and past struggles? Do you know why?

Along with passion for what we do, the secret to being a great manager, above all else, is the place you pick to work. You will become a part of whatever environment you work in; it's inescapable. Part of being a great business leader is knowing where you'll thrive the best. While nothing will ever be perfect, there are those places where you'll perform far better than others.

This is the reason why some great CEOs change workplaces, and find themselves like fish out of water. It all has to do with the environment they enter into. Think of the work environment whenever you're thinking of changing companies, going higher up in a company or starting new in a company. The environment of the company is a far bigger piece of the puzzle in your success than you could imagine. Don't underestimate it's impact.