Personality

If you have a boss, then you might think that it’s best to manage the same way that they do. Consistency is good, right?

The problem is that you may not be comfortable – or most effective – adopting another person’s style. In the same way as how you developed into different directions than your siblings did, you’ll start adopting your own unique voice.

That’s a great thing, but not a carte blanche.

Each organization will have its own culture, which also extends to how much freedom they allow their management team.

If you’re a suit-and-tie culture, then you’ll lose when you come into the office wearing flip-flops. Obvious, right? But that’s on the outside.

On the inside, you have your own unique language – ways of speaking and writing. Imagine that you’re having the first meeting with your new team, and you start off by saying, “good morning my friends!” with a lot of positive energy.

If that’s not the language and energy people generally use in team meetings, then folks will have a variety of internal reactions, which you may or may not be able to see in their faces.

• Well, THAT was different!
• Finally someone I might be able to work with!
• Who is is this clown?

So you can tone it down and use more “corporate” language. You know what that is, because you’ve been learning it in every interaction you’ve had with this organization.

But it could just be that you WANT to shake things up a little bit. Maybe some change will be a good thing, even if it takes weeks or months to take hold.

You always have opportunities. Which ones do you choose to use to become a great leader?

I’d like to wish my colleagues in the US a great Memorial Day! Let’s be thankful for those who have served to make our lives possible.