It’s funny how we bust out asses off to get a damn promotion, thinking everything will be better then. Only to realize that being that manager hasn’t really changed anything for you. In fact, things are even worse now that you’re accountable for results.
I’d say it’s not just the results you’re accountable for but the people as well. Yeah, the same bunch of folks whom you thought will work for you. And if that’s what you thought, I’ve got bad news for you — they don’t work for you. It’s the other way around. It always is! Just that managers don’t get it. Perhaps, that’s why they remain managers and never rise to the ranks of a leader.
Not exactly what they teach you at B-school, I know but I say this from experience — people will go out of their way for you if they know how much you care about them. Respect is a powerful thing and it’s earned overtime but only after you’ve proved yourself to be their supporter and cheerleader.
If you’re scratching your head, good. I’ll give you a moment to let this sink in.
The notion that everyone will work for you is flawed. The fact is everyone wants to be an entrepreneur because they can’t take orders from others is stupid and needs to be corrected. Why? Because you won’t ever get to a position when you’re actually ruling someone else, much less a fellow human being.
Expecting that they’re going to give you their best is moronic and highly unreasonable. Get this — if you can’t take orders, you can’t ever be a great follower. And all great leaders are great followers.
That’s what it takes to be influential. That’s what it takes to be a better entrepreneur, builder of businesses and even a great family person. You need to learn to follow and serve your employees, vendors and of course, your clients.
Sure, there will be individual differences at times but that’s okay. Everyone goes through that but your ability to resolve a conflict is directly related to your influence and the respect that people have for you.
Now, this is hard. I know that, but if you get this right, you’re basically set for life. I’ve mentioned this John Maxwell quote before and I’m going to say it again: “Leadership is influence. Nothing more. Nothing less.“