We all have a variety of managerial
skills available to us when encountering situations that require our
leadership. We may be experts with some skills, yet recognize the need to
improve or expand other leadership abilities. Each situation will require different
combinations of leadership to fulfill the needs of
the situation. Regardless of our skill level, and what we need to
accomplish, there is one ingredient in successful leadership that needs to rise
above all other skills.
No matter how skilled we are as a
leader, we need to make sure that we are taking the right attitude into every leadership situation. One
of the skills that leaders struggle with is conflict management. These
situations are never easy and can end with less than stellar results.
One situation that I have dealt with is
when I am approached with a complaint that so-and-so isn’t doing their
job. My first question is, “Why?” The response is usually, “I don’t know.” I’m
never really sure how this person expects me to solve a problem when they
aren’t certain what the problem is.
We need to find the root cause by
asking why. Until we know
this, no one will be able to make progress. Before asking this, I will take a
step back and ask myself one of the most important questions a leader can ask,
“How can I be of service here?” By asking this question, I can enter any
leadership situation with a service attitude.
By
moving forward with a service attitude, all of our other leadership skills will
be elevated to new levels, and we will be able to offer solutions that benefit
all parties.
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