Be prepared to flex and adapt

BossByte #5

There is an inherent double standard when it comes to effective management and leadership. 

I tell my management students that they must be prepared to adapt their leadership style–to supervise individual people on their team differently.  For example, when an employee demonstrates skill, reliability, good judgement, and wisdom, their boss should give them more freedom in their work and less direct oversight.  But when an employee demonstrates a lack of skill, consistency, reliability, etc. their boss must be prepared to give them greater and more direct supervision. 

I give my management students similar advice when it comes to working with their boss.  I advise them to be prepared to adapt to their boss.  That may seem unfair to some leaders.  They could easily ask, “When is it MY turn to be adapted to?”  Here’s the tough truth: If you want to be a great leader and manager, you are going to have to just accept the double standard and take the initiative to flex and adapt the way you do your work–in all directions of an organization: up, down, and across.

So… what does that really mean? 

Stay tuned to future blogs for specific ways to flex appropriately and become more effective as a result!