Everyday Leader Interview
What do dogs, Joseph Campbell and enlightment all have in common?
Find out at by listening to the latest installment of Everyday Leaders by clicking here, or simply clicking on the BlogTalkRadio player in the right column at www.prestontrue.com.
Just like any leadership initiative, purpose is more important than perfection – enjoy the interview and the technical bumps Samadi Demme and I experienced along the way.
Happy Leadership,
-Coach Preston
Disease
During a conversation earlier today, a client shared with me her frustration with how a project is going – or actually not going. Between her teammates not completing a milestone on time, her boss inquiring for the third time on the status of her board presentation, and painful discomfort in her lower back (origin not currently known), she’s overwhelmed and confronted. Adding to the situation was a phone call from her 10-year old asking if she’d actually be home for dinner any evening this week.
And so it goes climbing the ladder of accomplishment, praise and recognition. For most of us, we’ve all logged in the 100′s of hours, the late nights, the back-to-back meetings and the neglect of our larger life.
It’s not surprising that our conversation turned quickly to her back. “Herniated disk. Did it playing volleyball. Can’t seem to get rid of it. Physical therapy is helping though.” Her speaking painted the same picture.
Serve rather than Stress
Remember starting that new job? Or moving into a new position after a promotion? As exciting as it can be, it frequently comes with some challenges, especially for a new sales manager.
So, what are the greatest challenges a new sales director / manager faces? And most importantly, what are some ways to move beyond those challenges?
1) Overcoming the context of “You need to fix the mess your predecessor left behind.”
Suggestion = Start a dialogue with your boss and direct reports to get their experience of your predecessor complete. No matter what happened with your predecessor, you’re walking into an existing context that may not support your success. Context is decisive, so if you don’t address this, you will have a heck of a time “proving yourself” because your boss and team will be constantly comparing you to your predecessor rather than the actual goals of the organization.
