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For the past several months, we've been looking at 12 simple (but not simplistic) principles every manager needs to know.  We're finally at the end of this particular journey.

This final principle might be for more people than you think.  

Management is not for everyone. If you see that it’s not a good role for you, do everyone a favor and get out. Your knowledge, skills, and experience will be a better fit elsewhere. 

Does that shock you? It shouldn’t. I know plenty of people who moved into management roles simply because it the next logical step in career development. They never gave any thought towards whether it was a good fit or not. In fact, many managers I know never thought the “people” stuff would be so difficult and time consuming. 

I write about management, teach on management, and do plenty of consulting on management, but I learned back in 1995 that management was not for me. I didn’t have the heart or the stomach for it. It wasn’t a good fit with my skills or personality. I have however found a calling in what I do now. Do I consider myself a failure or a hypocrite? Absolutely not. I was wise to get out when I could. 

But let’s talk about you? Can you identify the reason you’re in management now? Is it a good fit? Are you in it for the right reasons? Do you love people? 

If you can answer these questions honestly, you’ll have your answer. I can show you all the tips and techniques but unless you’re really committed to being an effective manager and a great leader, they won’t work. 

Perhaps the first order of business for you is to do some soul searching. When you’ve come up with your answer, why not commit to the following strategy? 

1. Commit to making the change – just baby steps for now. Pick one or two of the principles and begin working on it.

2. Don’t get discouraged. Any habit is hard to break – beware of the self-fulfilling prophecy – it will happen. 

3. Commit right now, today here at this time to move forward. Pick a partner or get a coach and hold yourself accountable. 

4. Think about this as an investment in your own future, your own professional development. Your hard work now can solidify you as a great manager and a valuable resource. You may change lives as a result.

5. Be Positive: A recent study by insurance carrier MetLife determined that sales people who were optimistic sold 29% more insurance in their first year and 130% more in their second year than did pessimists.
 

So that’s it. Simple, but not simplistic. None of these are earth shattering – just simple things you can do, baby-steps at a time, to make a difference as a manager. If you want to be a better manager, a better leader, even a better family member, get busy and work the principles.  

I’m convinced that working each of the first 11 principles will get you noticed by your employees and your boss (in a good way!) If you choose to really get serious about Principle #12, everyone will notice. If you’re in management for the wrong reason, get out! If you’re in it for the right reason, then stay in but get deadly serious about doing it right. I’m excited to see and hear about the remarkable things you do in your management role.