Struggles of a manager
Managers are
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- lack self-confidence
- don’t know how to go from being a colleague to being a boss
- need to loosen up on the command & control leadership style
- must let go of the (technical) expert status
- cannot give or accept constructive feedback
- feel pressure to perform as manager
- have difficulty building relationships
- want to be liked by everyone or want to be the ‘bad boss’
- play the hero
- …
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- stay too involved in operations
- have trouble prioritizing
- cannot delegate
- fear conflict situations
- disconnect from the team
- deal with flawed strategic thinking
- do not relate to higher management
- lack clear communication skills
- remain not self-aware
- avoid difficult conversations
- miss political antennas
- ...
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- need mental preparation as successor
- need to be able to lead big changes ahead
- need to learn to be emotionally resilient and in control
- need to learn to make big decisions fast without all the information
- must become persuasive presenters
- need to learn how to cultivate their own personal brand
- need to learn how to lead by example
- manage by trust, not by fear
- need to overly develop empathy
- ...
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Mentee benefits
- Maximized individual’s potential
- Increased self-awareness, self-confidence and self-esteem
- Decreased in stress and anxiety
- Improved performance and productivity
- Improved knowledge and skills
- Affluence with giving and receiving feedback in a productive way
- More empowered to make decisions
- Greater well-being
- Stimulated outside-the-box thinking
- Greater awareness of other approaches to work
- Exposure to new ideas
- Gaining broader view of a sector and potential collaborators
- Increased visibility and recognition within the organisation
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Organisation benefits
- Leadership development (obviously)
- Increased retention, motivation and employee engagement
- Improved relationships
- Successful career progression
- Smart succession planning
- Demonstrates visible commitment to staff development and continuous learning
- Influx of tacit knowledge, people and team management skills and knowledge productivity
- Bridging the gap with senior management
- Builds diversity
- Reduced costs by retaining employees
- Improves talent acquisition efforts
- Fosters an inclusive, diverse and collaborative environment
- Achievement of company goals and objectives
