What does an effective manager look like? Am I an effective manager? It’s healthy to pause and reflect on our experiences, and to tune into the person we present to the world. I find it helpful to picture a leader you admire, and spend deep thought on what makes them admirable. Think about their attributes. Ruminate on how they make you feel when you are with them. Repeat this process a few more times with other leaders you admire. Do you notice any commonalities between them? Which attributes resonate with you most, and why? Then introspect on the learnings from this exercise and see where you go.
When you have the emotional energy, it’s worth considering a similar exercise with people in positions of power we feel to be bad or ineffective leaders. Please make sure you are in a good place, because I have sometimes found this experience triggering for me. Like so many others, I have had the unfortunate experience of surviving in toxic workplaces where I did not have safety. But when I do have the energy, I find it insightful to make sure I’m not repeating the hurt that was put onto me. I don’t want to repeat that cycle, so it’s imperative to be humble and reflective.
