How.
So, I'm luckily going to get to be back in the retail management side of things and I am a basket of emotions. So completely energized about the endless opportunities available yet completely petrified I will fail or be a disappointment. Obviously these are normal reactions to a new job, but these consume my mind daily! Partially because I can't get it out of my head that those passions and fears will be a part of my wandering mind for quite some time. I suppose, the only way to get around that overwhelming despair is to tackle them head on.
Which I am doing. Partially.
I have been reading endless articles on topics like what makes a strong leader and how to be an effective manager. I mean, I'm not starting tomorrow with a team of 10 employees, but I am obsessed with being an awesome leader/captain, and if I am standing at the gates down that path, I want to come prepared.
One thing I read that discouraged me and is the reason for writing this post, is that just because you were told you were a natural born leader at a younger age, doesn't mean you are capable of effectively leading others as an adult. Most likely you were a bossy student who took control when no one else did.
You guys. That's me.
Start crisis in my head.
I wasn't... well, wait, I mean, I did so much more than that! Right? I cared! And I cheered! And I made the good/hard decisions! And I was told I was a natural leader by some really admirable, leader-like people! I was the president of multiple clubs and organizations! I gathered people together! I got shit done! I am a leader! I'm not that person they are saying has a skewed idea of true leadership because someone told them they were a leader in a past life, right?
You see, I've always dreamed of changing lives through work ethic and customer service. Seriously. Even since being a kid. That's how our family found success and I wanted to pass on that mentality. I believe so much value lies in working hard and being kind, and can be applicable to any part of any life in any profession. I also think there are some really great tools people can use to incorporate those into their life when you may not be a people person. In short, I'm overfilled with compassion and in my own small way, I'd like to put that out there for people to see and perhaps pick it up in their own small way.
How do I do this without being a bossy boss? Or, am I really even a bossy boss? The way I see it, as long as I practice what I preach and provide guidance as we go along, all should work out in the end. I only learn by doing something myself, so I'll start with that. There is certainly an element of training in the beginning, as well as continual coaching (checking in, keeping communication open), but at the end of the day, how will you ever learn to walk on your own if I'm always holding your hand? To me leadership equals empowerment, inspiration, and motivation. Empower through independence, inspire by example, and motivation through recognition and high fives. Obviously. I want to practice compassion to my team because their success is my success. When I coached those kids in track, it all stemmed down to achieving a level of individual success for them. The winning moment was seeing those grinning faces as they set personal records and realized that they could do it. That they did do it! I. LOVE. SEEING. PEOPLE. "WIN".
I'm going to have to work on letting the little things go with handing over certain tasks and having faith that I can trust in them. If I've done my job correctly, of course I can trust them. And in the end it's to my benefit to hand over certain tasks because that will allow me to focus on other things, every growing our little store and making us all feel like bigger and bigger rock stars.
Baby steps. Lets do this.
Which I am doing. Partially.
I have been reading endless articles on topics like what makes a strong leader and how to be an effective manager. I mean, I'm not starting tomorrow with a team of 10 employees, but I am obsessed with being an awesome leader/captain, and if I am standing at the gates down that path, I want to come prepared.
One thing I read that discouraged me and is the reason for writing this post, is that just because you were told you were a natural born leader at a younger age, doesn't mean you are capable of effectively leading others as an adult. Most likely you were a bossy student who took control when no one else did.
You guys. That's me.
Start crisis in my head.
I wasn't... well, wait, I mean, I did so much more than that! Right? I cared! And I cheered! And I made the good/hard decisions! And I was told I was a natural leader by some really admirable, leader-like people! I was the president of multiple clubs and organizations! I gathered people together! I got shit done! I am a leader! I'm not that person they are saying has a skewed idea of true leadership because someone told them they were a leader in a past life, right?
You see, I've always dreamed of changing lives through work ethic and customer service. Seriously. Even since being a kid. That's how our family found success and I wanted to pass on that mentality. I believe so much value lies in working hard and being kind, and can be applicable to any part of any life in any profession. I also think there are some really great tools people can use to incorporate those into their life when you may not be a people person. In short, I'm overfilled with compassion and in my own small way, I'd like to put that out there for people to see and perhaps pick it up in their own small way.
How do I do this without being a bossy boss? Or, am I really even a bossy boss? The way I see it, as long as I practice what I preach and provide guidance as we go along, all should work out in the end. I only learn by doing something myself, so I'll start with that. There is certainly an element of training in the beginning, as well as continual coaching (checking in, keeping communication open), but at the end of the day, how will you ever learn to walk on your own if I'm always holding your hand? To me leadership equals empowerment, inspiration, and motivation. Empower through independence, inspire by example, and motivation through recognition and high fives. Obviously. I want to practice compassion to my team because their success is my success. When I coached those kids in track, it all stemmed down to achieving a level of individual success for them. The winning moment was seeing those grinning faces as they set personal records and realized that they could do it. That they did do it! I. LOVE. SEEING. PEOPLE. "WIN".
I'm going to have to work on letting the little things go with handing over certain tasks and having faith that I can trust in them. If I've done my job correctly, of course I can trust them. And in the end it's to my benefit to hand over certain tasks because that will allow me to focus on other things, every growing our little store and making us all feel like bigger and bigger rock stars.
Baby steps. Lets do this.