A member of a team studying The New Managers Workbook a crash course in effective management, pulled me aside to share a story. He told me his 19-year-old daughter had called him from college to thank him. She’d noticed a new dynamic between mom and dad. They were getting along better than ever, not that they had severe problems, but according to dad, he wasn’t always a good listener or open to his wife’s and daughter’s ideas or input. His daughter said she’d seen a change in dad. He was becoming a better listener to her and her mother, and was open to hearing their ideas. In the past, once dad’s mind was set he closed the doors. He wasn’t open for business. But now he was open. Leadership development doesn’t end at the office.
Dad’s Story
As I listened to his story I thought that’s wonderful, but what’s the connection? And then he connected the dots for me. He looked me in the eye, grabbed my hand to shake it, and said thank you. He had applied what he was learning in the leadership development classes to his relationship with his family. It had improved his homelife. I was grateful he shared the story. It not only made my day it gave me satisfaction and fulfillment, because it’s a big reason I conduct leadership development, to watch others grow.
It’s an Old Tale
It’s not the first time I’ve heard this from folks in leadership development. Entire classes have talked about how they’ve applied the leadership training to their lives, and not only work. Leadership development trainees have shared how they’ve improved communication, team building, and silo busting at home, church, and club. Behavior modification, conflict management, and activity driven goal setting have improved the lives of not only themselves, but their loved ones.
Others have used problem-solving techniques and time management methods to make things better in all aspects of their life – not just work.
The Best You
Striving to be a better leader at work begins with becoming a better human being. Improving who you are doesn’t involve punching a time clock. Becoming an upgraded version of yourself, the new and improved version, you 2.0, is 24/7. So, if you strive to be a better manager and leader of people the kickback is you become a better person in every aspect of your life. Don’t you love it?
How Can I Help?
I like to help people and organizations, but I have three criteria I consider before taking an assignment – I believe in what the organization stands for, I know I can help, and it looks like fun. If you have any questions, Contact Me.
Does your business have a management training plan? Many organizations, large and small, use my book, The New Manager’s Workbook a crash course im effective management, as the basis for their leadership development program.
Photo by Xavier Miralles on Unsplash
