Have you ever stopped to think that being a great manager isn’t actually about you (*ouch*)? That’s the shift in thinking that FranklinCovey’s Todd Davis argues for in his new book, Everyone Deserves a Great Manager. Todd suggests being a great manager is really about everyone on your team, and what their individual needs, hopes, and goals are.
This may seem a bit counter-intuitive, especially considering how prevalent leadership development books, resources, and gurus are these days, with a square focus on self-growth. But don’t confuse the shift from me to thee as a shift away from self development. Being a great manager requires constant growth and development, but the focus becomes how your skillset benefits your team predominantly, and not just you.
If this feels like hard work, we’ve got you covered. First, listen to Todd talk about the six critical practices (which are field tested, real, and relatable) on the People at Work podcast. Then, pick up a copy of his book with excellent start-today resources for how to apply each of the six practices. In doing so, you’ll elevate your managerial practice and the level of satisfaction and engagement on your team. Who wouldn’t want that?
“If you could do nothing else as a manager, but only create the circumstances for raising the level of engagement of your team, you would be a successful manager.”
Todd Davis
Chief People Officer, FranklinCovey
With three decades of experience in human resources and talent development, Todd is FranklinCovey’s Chief People Officer and an author. He once fulfilled a lifelong goal of taking a stand-up comedy course where graduation included a 15-minute warm up act at a local comedy club.
His books include:
Everyone Deserves a Great Manager
Get Better: 15 Proven Practices to build Effective Relationships at Work
Linchpin by Seth Godin