Ten Steps to Becoming a Better Leader in 2008

New Years is a time for many people to evaluate where they are, where they want to and what they need to change in their day-to-day lives. For leaders, whether they are supervisors, managers, mid-level executives or senior executives in any field, being more effective is the key to success – for themselves and their organization. The New Year is a good time to evaluate what leadership skills and traits are working and which ones are inhibiting success. Here are ten of them for your consideration.

Start

By learning at least ten facts about each of your “direct reporting” employees. Take time to know more about them, and their lives in and out of the work place makes them more human and builds respect and rapport between the two of you.

Stop

Micromanaging the daily activities of your employees at any level in the organization. Micromanaging decreases productivity, creativity and motivation. If you give them clear objectives and then monitor their attainment of those objectives on a periodic basis, most employees perform at higher levels.

Start

Having a direct face-to-face conversation with your people at all levels in the organization about what is and – more importantly – what is not working. The key here is to listen rather than to talk. But asking lots of questions is good. While you may not act on every point, issue or idea, it is important to gain a more a front line perspective of what is going on in the organization.

Stop

Putting off writing and giving performance appraisals to your direct report employees at the last minute. Most managers at any level make this mistake. As a leader of people, continuous feedback which culminates in the comprehensive and thorough performance appraisal is essential.

Start

Being more candid about all feedback. Do not say something is good if it is mediocre. Do not say something is adequate if it is poor. Whether it is a product, a presentation, a report, an advertisement or a strategy, being more honest and candid is the right thing to do for yourself and for your organization. Far too many people are generous with praise and accept substandard work.

Stop

Interacting with people by email. Face-to-face is ideal. If not face-to-face then over the telephone. The last resort should be by e-mail. Too many managers at all levels hide behind e-mail rather than dealing directly with their peers, bosses, employees or even customers. There is nothing like the personal touch for a leader.

Start

Encouraging your people to get more training and education. The natural instinct is to say “no”. You cannot afford for them to be away from the office. But more training and education will make them more effective, more creative and more valuable when they are at work. Invest in your people.

Stop

That fake “rah-rah” program of the month type initiatives. They waste everyone’s time, energy and the organization’s budget. Understand your vision, your mission and your values. Ensure your objectives and clearly and quantified. Then focus on getting your time energized about what needs to be done to meet those objectives.

Start

Being a real “coach” by making sure that you communication the goals and objectives clearly. You should be able to ask any member of your team about their objectives and you should get a clear and concise response including where they stand relative to achieving them to-date. If they cannot to this, then you have not been clear enough about their objectives.

Stop

Accepting recognition for yourself. Direct all recognition to your people. The soldiers on the front lines deserve the medals. Not the pencil pushers behind the desks at Headquarters. When something good happens, make sure the right person gets recognized – and promptly.

Being a “boss” is not easy. It is really about being a leader – not a manager – regardless of the title. To be a more effective leader in the New Year, starting and stopping the behaviors and actions outlined above will provide a good new beginning.

George F. Franks, III is the President of Franks Consulting Group - a management consulting and leadership coaching practice. Franks Consulting Group is on the web at:
http://franksconsultinggroup.com
George can be e-mailed at:
gfranks@franksconsultinggroup.com

What to Wear to the Company Holiday Party

Holiday parties and other work-related functions are both a blessing and a curse this time of the year. One can count on co-workers getting drunk, making a pass at the male or female “hottie” from the office and plenty of folks kissing up to the boss. You can also count on people wearing the most outrageous and unacceptable attire. So what should you wear to a company holiday function?

For Men During the Day

If the holiday function is during the day, it is best to wear what you wear to work if the invitation does not say anything special. That means if you wear a suit normally during the day, then wear a suit. If you usually wear business casual, then do the same but it is always a good idea to at least bring a sport jacket or blazer. Do not wear jeans, work-out attire or sneakers even if those are the things you normally wear during the day. Avoid the funny Santa hats, reindeer antlers and ties that play “Jingle Bells”. That is not how you want the boss – and her boss to remember you.

For Men During the Evening

If the holiday function is in the evening, the invitation may say business attire or formal attire. If it says business attire and you have a very casual office, then you may be able to wear a sport jacket, shirt and tie and dress (not cotton khakis) trousers with non-sport shoes (and NO sandals). You are safest for evening “business attire” wearing a dark suit. Dress as if you are going to an appointment with an important client and not like a teenager’s first job interview. Take the time to look right and together. Make sure you suit is clean and pressed, that your tie is clean and press too and that your shirt is clean and crisp looking. Polish your shoes. And again, no Santa hats, reindeer antlers and ties that play “Jingle Bells”. You want to make a good impression with your co-workers, your boss and her boss too.

For formal attire, you can often get by with the dark business suit, a white dress shirt and serious looking tie with dress shoes. Ideally, for formal attire, you are going to need to wear a tuxedo with a white shirt (no ruffles please) and a black bow tie. Polished black dress shoes are acceptable unless you own patent leather formal shoes (ideally slip-ons with grosgrain bows). Remember, no powder blue suits, spinning Santa ties or holly motif shirts. Simplicity is elegance.

For Women During the Day

If the Holiday function is during the day, the attire rules for the women are the same as the men. If you wear suits to work – either with a skirt or slacks – then wear the same to the Company Holiday party during the day. You can dress it up with very good shoes (heels NOT flip-flops) and a bit better jeweler than you would normally wear – but nothing overwhelming for the event. A holiday themed pin is acceptable for women but not encourages. And please no reindeer pins that light up or play songs digitally. In lieu of a suit, a business cut skirt (dark) and a dress blouse with or without a pin also works for daytime events. Again with the good dress shoes. The skirt can be replace by a pair of dark, business cut slacks worn with dressy shoes. As with men, no workout attire, non running shoes, nothing “cute” and no, No, NO! Flip-flops. If skirts are worn, remember to wear stockings – it is not the middle of summer.

For Women During the Evening

For many companies, the evening Holiday function is a place to see and be seen. Dressing well is something many women thing about long before December. There are three different types of attire that can pass based on how formal the evening is noted as in the invitation. If the event is right after work, then attire mentioned for the daytime event may be appropriate – a suit with a skirt or slacks and a dressy blouse with the addition of tasteful jewelry and good shoes (read that as heels). For the more formal function during the week, a dress may be appropriate. It should be conservative and tasteful unless you are in a glamour industry (in which case you don’t need to read this). Match the dress with heels and stockings, pearls and a pin or other simple jewelry. No short skirts or plunging necklines please. Again, you want to impress you boss and her boss with what a brilliant employee you are, not sleep with her husband.

Finally, if it says “formal” and is held at a private venue in the evening – and probably during the weekend, then the sky is the limit. You had best go shopping now if you have not already. A couple of points to remember. What you wear should be conservative, it should be classic, it should say that you are educated and success and it should be something that you can wear again in the future. Do not forget the pearls. You can wear a little more jewels. And no matter what, do not wear anything with a holiday theme or with red and green in it. You might as well be standing by Santa at the mall if you do that.

Employees work hard all year to get good performance ratings, raises and promotions. But many people, regardless of their career level, do stupid things and wear the most inappropriate attire at the holiday function. While you want your attire to say all the right things about you, it should be traditional and tasteful enough that what you say is listened to by the boss, her boss and those further up the organization’s chain of command. Make the holiday event a career boost and not a career killer.

George F. Franks, III is the President of Franks Consulting Group - a management consulting and leadership coaching practice. Franks Consulting Group is on the web at:
http://franksconsultinggroup.com
George can be e-mailed at:
gfranks@franksconsultinggroup.com