Management can seem overwhelming at times. The sheer volume of communication, inflows of data, and countless interruptions can wreak havoc on most anyone's psyche. Is it any wonder managers can get grumpy from time-to-time?
Eventually we adjust to the flow so we can keep up with the daily grind, but what happens when things change? How can we prepare ourselves to lead our teams when we aren't sure what might be coming or way?
Management is a science masquerading as an art. Artists have to learn the basics before they can begin to let their imaginations take charge. The same is true for leadership.
Once you understand the order and structure of things, everything starts slowing down. Instead of reacting to a problem you're anticipating effects of events that have yet to happen.
Sports teams practice and train for situations that might occur during the course of a game. However, before they can do that the coach has to understand the basics of the game and then use that knowledge to develop a training program, playbook, and then use this information to train their team.
Leadership isn't any different. Reading books/articles and listening to podcasts related to your field (leadership, operations, marketing, and my favorite, psychology) provide insight to events the authors have gone through so:
1) you can learn from their experience
2) take positive steps to mitigate potential issues in your workplace
3) your playbook can expand with new processes
Does reading replace the need for mentoring and networking, of course not, but it is an essential part of the development process. So get an Audible account, sign up for a leadership podcast, follow relevant blogs, or talk with a business guide (we're here to help). No matter what you do, make the choice to learn more. It will help you solidify the foundation of your chosen artform; the science of leading teams.
