As Iron Sharpens Iron
There are many styles of management and leadership, just as no two people are alike, no two leaders do things the same. I've had managers that you would consider a micro-manager. They have to know every little detail of everything, basically making you feel like you are incompetent even though they say they value you. Worse than that are the managers that like to exert their power, frequently remind people that they are in charge and will lash out at anyone that challenges them even if it is a better idea.
On the other side you have the managers that trust you completely, who are so hands off they have no real idea what you do every day, they just know and trust that it is getting done. On the surface this seems like a great thing, but eventually you run into challenges that you need help navigating and someone you can go to for advice. When there isn't anyone else that understands things it can leave you feeling isolated.
What we really need is both. We need to have people that sharpen us. It can be a manager or your peers, but you need individuals that know enough about what you are doing that they can offer intelligent feedback. Balancing that is a trust and respect of your knowledge to perform your role effectively. You need both because we want to be successful and own the things we are responsible for, but we are all human and make mistakes. We can develop blind spots to our own weaknesses. We don't always see the things we aren't doing effectively.
Proverbs 27:17 is a great life verse of a good way to manage and lead. But it is also a good verse on how to be led and be managed. The strongest teams are great because the individuals on the team work to help make the others on their team better. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Who do you go to when you need sharpening?
On the other side you have the managers that trust you completely, who are so hands off they have no real idea what you do every day, they just know and trust that it is getting done. On the surface this seems like a great thing, but eventually you run into challenges that you need help navigating and someone you can go to for advice. When there isn't anyone else that understands things it can leave you feeling isolated.
What we really need is both. We need to have people that sharpen us. It can be a manager or your peers, but you need individuals that know enough about what you are doing that they can offer intelligent feedback. Balancing that is a trust and respect of your knowledge to perform your role effectively. You need both because we want to be successful and own the things we are responsible for, but we are all human and make mistakes. We can develop blind spots to our own weaknesses. We don't always see the things we aren't doing effectively.Proverbs 27:17 is a great life verse of a good way to manage and lead. But it is also a good verse on how to be led and be managed. The strongest teams are great because the individuals on the team work to help make the others on their team better. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Who do you go to when you need sharpening?
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