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People view moving into management generally in one of two ways…

The first viewpoint is that they are “moving up” in the company. They don’t have to physically go out and do the work.

The second viewpoint is essentially coming the opposite side. A common phrase for this line of thinking is “those who can’t do, manage.”

But, while there is some truth in both of those points of view, I believe that they’re both incomplete and situation-dependent. Doing the work and managing those who do the work requires two different skill sets. Just because you’re good at doing something doesn’t mean that you’ll be a good manager. You may know what to do on your own, but leading others may not be a strength for you.

On the opposite side of the coin, maybe you can’t do the work, but you can teach others how to do it. That shouldn’t make your ideas or inputs any less valued than the person completing the work.

You’ll occasionally run into the unicorn that can do and manage, which is the best of both worlds. And, of course, the last option is that you can’t do it or coach/manage it. In that case, without a lot of effort, you just be in the wrong line of work.

No matter where you are in the doing-versus-managing spectrum, be aware that these require different skill sets. Don’t be dismissive of the other person’s ideas. Instead focus on collaborating with them and you’ll all be able to achieve the results that you desire.

The next time something bad or unexpected happens to you, don’t play the victim card. Be the hero that overcomes defeat.

If something happens to someone you care about, focus on being their guide. It is not you who needs to be the hero of this story, but rather the guide who helps the hero on his/her journey. Help to put them in a position to overcome their current struggles. When you help them do that, they will realize that the power to overcome defeat is within them. But if you solve the problem for them, you’re not helping in the long run. You’re teaching them that they need someone else to solve their problems.

For example, if someone lost their job, offer to introduce them to people with whom you’re connected. Don’t just offer them money to get through this tough time. Giving someone money, while generous, is like the parable of giving a man a fish to eat. When you give a man a fish to eat, he has food for one meal. But if you teach that man how to fish, he will be able to provide many meals for himself and his family.

Help others by being their guide, not the hero of their story.

“He who loves with purity considers not the gift of the lover, but the love of the giver.” – Thomas a Kempis

“As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’”- Luke 21: 1-4

When you feel something for others, when you want to give or help out in any way possible, don’t wait until you feel like you have enough. If you do, you’ll never never get started. Don’t wait to be generous. You can start giving now – helping now. And when others give to you (their time, energy, praise, or even “small gifts”), do not take their gifts for granted. Remember, it’s the thought that counts, not the size or monetary worth of the gift.

There are a lot of people going through rough times today. If you can find a way to help, I hope that you’ll seriously consider doing so.

http://www.feedingmedinacounty.org

There are three types of biases that I’ve been reading about/thinking about recently. We all subconsciously are biased, but the first step to minimizing these biases is to be aware that they exist. Read the three types below to understand a little more about how we are biased and what we can do to help prevent this in the future…

1) Confirmation bias – When you want something, often times you only look for facts that support your opinion. How do you combat this? Play devil’s advocate. Instead of trying to find information that agrees with you, start by looking for credible information that disproves your theory.

2) Superiority bias – When you think that your qualities, abilities, or opinions are better than everyone else’s. What to do to avoid superiority bias? Don’t discount or disqualify someone else’s opinion just because it did not come from you or because it is not congruent with your way of thinking. Try to understand where that person is coming from. Try to see the valid points that they are making.

3) Attribution bias – When we make a mistake, we think it’s because of something outside of our control, but when others make a mistake it must be because of something they did or a character flaw that they have. Action step to take? Don’t deflect. Take ownership of the results that happen under your watch. Often times, we are too lenient with ourselves and hold others to a different standard.

There’s a reason why the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror. Look forward. Look towards your future. Concentrate on what’s in front of you so you can safely get to where you want to go. You can glance back at the past, but it should not be your main focus…you’ll never get to where you want to be by looking in the rear view mirror (living in the past).