Managing is like … riding a horse!

I was coaching a supervisor yesterday and he commented that while he was spending lots of time with his direct reports, he wasn’t actively managing or leading them; in essence, he was working with them on a project, like a peer.  In the case of one rather difficult direct report, this approach was not working for this supervisor.  He felt he needed to be more proactive.

What he needs to do is be ‘on’ all the time with his direct reports.  He needs to realize that when he is with them in a work environment, doing work, he needs to understand that he is in his ‘manager’ or ‘leader’ role and act accordingly.  What does being ‘on’ look like?

It looks and sounds like this:  A manager weighs his words before they are uttered to ensure they are in keeping with his role.  Are the words appropriate to the situation?  Is the tone proper?  Am I providing direction and information such that my direct report can use it?  Generally, am I coming across like an objective, rationale manager who knows what he is doing?

All these things should run through your mind, more so if you are new to this type of thought process and less if you are a seasoned veteran.  I am not saying be worried about what you say and do, fearful of making a mistake.  I’m saying make sure you review your words before uttering them.  Make sure they are the right words for the situation, spoken in the right tone.

So, how is this like riding a horse?  Well, I recalled when I was taking riding lessons that my instructor said ‘every time you get on a horse you are either schooling it, or unschooling it.’  The point being that if you were schooling it, the horse was receiving the instruction it needed; if you were unschooling it, the horse was becoming more difficult to manage.  The same thing goes with managing and leading.  You are either actively managing and leading or just holding the title.  You must be ‘on’ and active in performing your role so that your direct reports continue to develop, grow and assist in achieving organizational objectives.

Let me know how that works for you.