Leadership training so often focuses on the hard stuff: managing people, managing stress, managing change and so forth. We don’t seem to spend a lot of time thinking about what to do when things are going well.
Here are 3 ideas to think about when you wake up with a smile and think “Wow, things are going pretty well”.
- Manage People Even More. This is a great time to take advantage of good moods, schedules that under control and a general positive atmosphere. Talk to your people about career options. Spend time getting to know them better. This is a perfect time for the” Office Walkabout” that I’ve written about in this space a few times. Or think about some cross-training plans, allowing people to see other parts of your business and experience different roles and responsibilities.
- Manage Your Processes. Without the chaos of change and stress, this could very well be a great time for you to look at the big picture and think about how your business, or your department, or your team, works when things are going well and not so well. Take time to sit with your team members and watch them work, to better understand what they are doing, how they are doing it and possibly how we can improve the process. Create a manual or guide to the work you are doing in preparation for the next new team member. Or simply revisit your current processes and methodologies and confirm that you are still on the right track.
- Manage Your Future. This is a great time for you to look and think strategically on behalf of your organization. Where do you want this group to be in 1, 3 or 5 years and what are some of the changes over the horizon that you should be prepared for? Maybe it’s time to do a SWOT analysis on your group and maybe even each of the team members. Understanding your ‘current state’, as in any strategic planning process, gives you a clear vision to the potential future and especially the path to get you there.
With things going well, there are loads of opportunities for us as leaders. Take advantage of the good times and use them to better your team and yourself.
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