As a manager of a small electronics manufacturing company I am not exactly close in significance compared to the Chief Mobility Officer of a very famous technology corporation (wink-wink) but am proud to say that I’ve worked hard enough to earn a management type of role in my profession. This year has been the hardest and busiest year of my career to date, especially in these tough economic times. Did I mention I was in manufacturing? Almost every day I have thought to myself, “Why am I doing this job?” I often jest to my staff that I wish I had an easier job (What a jerk!). Thankfully, today I’m reminded of how fortunate I am to have a good job because I realized some people might want to someday achieve what I modestly have. This leads me to share the set of questions below which was sent to me in a worksheet by an associate who is currently taking management courses. As part of her homework she asked me to fill out the form for her which I did, but not right away. At first glance I felt like it was too much of a bother to fill out so I let it sit in my email inbox for awhile. Upon reading the questions further and answering them, I actually found it to be a good personal exercise as it forced me to reflect upon how I perceive myself in a managerial role. In an instant, my entire outlook about my job changed after I read the form. I found the process of answering these questions to be very insightful as it really made me think of what my purpose was as a manager, my understanding of my core competency and my mastery of my own capabilities. So after much personal reflection, I realized I may not be the Chief Mobility Officer of a very famous technology corporation but I am a manager, and proud of it.
Go though the list below and learn more about yourself.
1. Briefly describe your current position and responsibilities.
2. What do your subordinates expect from you on the job?
3. What are the major stresses and challenges you face on job?
4. What, if anything, do you dislike about the job?
5. What do you like best about your job?
6. What are the critical differences between average managers and top-performing managers?
7. Think about the skills and knowledge that you need to be effective in your job. What are they, and how did you acquire them?
8. What have been your biggest mistakes thus far? Could you have avoided them? If so, how?
