On BusinessWeek.com, Beth Weissenberger discusses the negative traits that managers acquire and how to conquer them.
Weissenberger, who is CEO and co-founder of New York-based coaching company The Handel Group, says a manager must think about every aspect of their personality and how they got to where they are in order to move to the next level.
She explains: "Why do you need to look backward to look forward? Because history - your unique, personal history - is a critical factor in figuring out why you are the way you are, on both the positive side and the negative."
Weissenberger insists that everyone has negative traits, including the most successful leaders and managers. So no one should feel guilty about possessing these traits but must make a concerted effort to acknowledge them in order to go about rectifying them.
Possible negative traits are micromanaging employees when it's not necessary, being suspicious, harsh, impatient or forceful, and lacking appreciation.
So how can these be uncovered? Weissenberger has several suggestions.
"One way is to reach out to people you both trust and feel comfortable with, and explain to them that you genuinely want to hear about your less-than-positive traits because you are sincere about changing your behaviour," she says.
"Another way to do this is," Weissenberger adds, "is to make a list of situations that didn't work out the way you wanted or that made you unhappy, and figure out your role in it."
Once you have identified your unwanted traits, you then have to go about discarding them.
To that end, Weissenberger recommends the use of promises and consequences. She explains how she used this method herself.
"For instance, my big thing was I could get really mean with people - be sarcastic, say really debilitating things to them," she admits. "It didn't work and I was committed to changing that trait.
"I promised that if I was mean to anyone, I had 15 minutes to realise it and then go back to the person and apologise. If I didn't catch myself or if someone else caught me, if it took me longer than 15 minutes to figure it out or if I didn't want to apologise, I paid the consequence, which was throwing $10 on the street."
Weissenberger says a system of consquences begins the process of becoming aware of the trait. Inviting the help of other people also sends them the message that the manager is serious about change and improvement.
She calls upon managers to "tell on yourself to your team" and then “set up your consequences, let them in on the game, and have fun with it. You'll be amazed at what happens."
How to Conquer Your Negative Traits as a Manager
Beth Weissenberger, BusinessWeek.com, 19/01/10
