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Working from your Strength - Leveraging the positives in your management style - Part 2

Over the past few Journals we have looked into many different types of CAD Managers.  We looked at three styles of management in June, three more in July and concluded with three in August.

We continue what we started and look at a few more positive traits that can be capitalized upon.  From the September Journal we covered...

1.  You are Dependable

2.  You are Organized

3.  You are Investigational

Now we turn to others...

4.  You are a Trailblazing Pioneer

You seem to create something out of nothing.  You have the energy to start down a new road that no one has even thought of before.  Spontaneously working in new area is your gift.  You are not afraid to try things out.  You are not afraid to start something when you don't really know if it will pan out.  You are adventurous and exploratory.  You boldly go where no one has gone before.

Leveraging this Strength:   Those who are willing to step out on a limb are those that climb to the top of the tree and can see above the crowd.  When you work this strength others will see the fruits of your adventurous spirit.  You are most likely an early adopter and able to stay in front of the pack.  Keep people invested by defining and refining how these new tools are used.  You may tend to see only the positives in new software, but you need to speak openly and honestly about the plusses and the minuses.  You need to slow down and talk to those who may not share your enthusiasm.  You should not run fast than the ability of others to keep up. 
 

5.  You are Planner

You can take any job, no matter how large, and break it down into smaller steps.  You can see the end from the beginning.  You know how one task interacts with another.  You enjoy seeing things mapped out and systematic.  You are a logical thinker.  You can set a list of task in motion, move positively to get things done, reorganize as you go and complete assignments on time.  You have it all together.

Leveraging this Strength:   This kind of thinking is so valued by employers.  Everyone should develop this strength.  You should come along side others and help them develop your perspectives.  Take the time to assist those you work with to break down the large tasks into smaller ones.  show them how planning out a process helps move from a feeling of being overwhelmed to one of being in control.

6.  You are a Coach

You encourage others by seeing their strengths.  You notice how others are doing and help them to the next step.  You can see the missing pieces to a puzzle and can help others fill in the blanks.  You are able to correct others in such a way that they feel empowered rather than having their wings clipped.  You can turn a negative into a positive by seeing the best in people.  You can gather teams together and start them in the right direction.  You can come into a stalled team and get them moving again.

Leveraging this Strength:   Cautiously offer to help team efforts to make progress.  Use caution because you could step on some toes.  Coaching from the sidelines should not become coaching from the grandstands.  You need to have a stake in the outcome and not so distant that if the team fails it would not matter.  Ask a lot of questions and give little advice.  Help the team to figure it out.  Don't give them the answer, help them find it for themselves. 

October 2007