Finding Balance: Critical Elements of Managing People

I once worked for a boss I labeled “TQ”—for Twenty Questions—because he was constantly asking me questions about my work.

He micromanaged every aspect of my responsibility and I hated it.  He was way too involved in my decisions as if he didn’t trust me to make any on my own.

On the other hand, I had a different boss who was completely disengaged. He was a hard man to track down unless something went wrong. He was aloof and disconnected. He never visited our location or met with us, and it felt like he didn’t care and that our team wasn’t important to the company.

Both leaders had taken their level of involvement to an extreme and, in each situation, it led to my frustration.

Therein lies the challenge of leadership, finding the right balance.

The quest for balance doesn’t just relate to leadership involvement either, it permeates every aspect of managing people. Click To Tweet

Think about these other leadership dimensions:

1. If a leader is too emotional, there is unnecessary drama in the office. If a leader is emotionless, the organization feels cold and callous.
2. If a leader is too optimistic, the company is overly aggressive and misses targets. If a leader is too pessimistic, the organization never pushes to new levels of performance.
3. If a leader is too aggressive, the organization might cut corners and take too many risks. If a leader is over-cautious, the company may miss out on important opportunities for fear of failure.
4. If a leader is too nice, poor performers are rarely disciplined. If the leader is too mean, a toxic environment can exist that affects overall morale.
5. If a leader is too knowledgeable, the team depends on them for all the answers. If a leader has only a limited understanding of the business, there is a lack of respect and the possibility that people could take advantage of the situation.

Finding balance as a leader is critical but determining the right balance in every leadership situation is difficult. 

It requires self-awareness and a willingness to listen to constructive feedback.

Leaders who are looking for balance need to have an empathic ear to listen to employees’ concerns. Click To Tweet

They need to be sensitive to areas where they may be acting in an extreme manner.

—————————

If you want to become a better leader, order my latest book You Have the Watch: A Guided Journal to Become a Leader Worth Following.

This guided journal provides daily leadership guidance and reflection for an entire year. Each week, you will learn a new leadership skill. Each day, you will explore a new facet of that skill. As you do the work and put in the reps as a leader, this journal will be your constant companion. By the end of the year, you will master fifty of the most important leadership skills.

 

 

[Photo from Canva]