How to be a better manager in your business, by Amana Walker

Amana says: "How long does it take, to prove yourself as a manager?

So, the football season is well under way…but even after a few games, there were calls for at least one manager in the Premier League to be sacked.

And the reason? The results are not good enough.

People are talking about the managers’ ineffectiveness or them not having a game-plan; and others are saying they’re not using the right players in the right positions. Football is a sensitive subject and it’s easy for respect to start falling away and for confidence in the person at the top to fade.

Success is expected; great teamwork shown in performance is expected; and of course, consistency in winning is expected.

Yes, I know, it’s down to opinion and not everyone agrees with the sentiment, but unfair as it is – that’s life at the top. Football is a business.

But let’s be honest, the pressure on anyone in business to win, is high and this applies to all leaders at the top. You know you’re capable, but you’re hit with obstacles, criticism (some of which you don’t hear but you know is happening) and before long, the self-doubt creeps in.

How do you handle the fact that even though you’re worthy of being in that position, you still feel the need to prove yourself?

If this happens to be you, here are a few things to consider - and they apply to every leader out there:

Remind yourself why you are the one in the job

You were given the job because you were the right person for it.

That means you have the relevant experience, knowledge, or strengths to be in that position. When working under pressure though, the very things that we’re good at are often underused or overlooked in a speedy attempt to get the job done. But this is the very time to pull those strengths out of the bag and turn up the volume on how much you use them. When you can do that, you remind everyone (including yourself) why there is no one better for the job than you.

Build the right support around you

Having the right people in your closest circle is important at the best of times, but when results are disappointing, it matters even more.

Yes, you need them to step up and stand side by side with you (even when they don’t agree with you), but you also need them to be honest.

Could there be something about the performance of the business that you’ve missed? Could there be something with your leadership that you’re not seeing?

If you truly want to be the best, ask those you trust and listen to their views. Sometimes the harshest lessons are the most valuable.

Have a solid plan, but be prepared to be flexible

What seemed like the right plan when built, might need modifying to adapt to market conditions. That doesn’t necessarily mean ripping it up and starting again, but it might mean taking a long hard look at it and making some tough decisions about the direction you are taking the business in. Sticking with your plan is admirable and demonstrates your long-term vision, but flexibility and changing course can be a smart move.

Ultimately, you are responsible for the success of the business – whatever that business is – so how can you pivot to protect the business and the people in it?

Take counsel and be prepared for anything.

Great teamwork is about talent. It’s also about attitude

We’ve all seen it – the best players are on the pitch, but they still don’t win.

That’s because great footballers don’t necessarily make a great football team. Teamwork is not about individual greatness. It’s bigger than that.

Take a long hard look at yours. Are your team as solid as they could be? Are there any egos causing unrest?

No one person is worth more than your whole team put together and whilst talking about tactics or new ways to win business is important, talking about having the right attitude tops the lot.

Without it, you’ll underperform.

How you lead during the tough times, is the real skill of leadership

Leading when the going gets tough is the biggest leadership test of all, and these are the moments when support for the boss is either magnified, or, as we often see in football, comes crashing down.

It’s far easier (but never easy) to lead when the results are good. That’s when you’re seen as the best thing since sliced bread and without doubt the right person for the job. But let’s be real, there will be times when you have to face up to the fact that things are not going well, and that’s when the spotlight is well and truly on you to find the reasons why, and then the answers. The fix is left in your hands.

Even if you can’t get an immediate uplift in results, you can show outstanding leadership behaviour. That means not looking for someone else to blame, not rising to negative comments, and not lashing out at anyone in the team.

Instead, you start by taking immediate ownership. Then you look at how you can better motivate your team, reassure the doubters, and work hard to find some quick wins whilst looking deeper into the operation of the business.

When you have everyone behind you, and you inspire them with confidence, anything is possible. That might sound cheesy, but it happens to be true.

So, how long does it take to prove yourself to be the right manager for the job?

Ultimately, results will answer that.

But you do have the opportunity to prove how good you are every day, and that’s a privilege.