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HOW DO I PRACTICE THE MANAGER TOOL TECHNIQUES IF I AM NOT CURRENTLY A MANAGER?

It's great for me to listen to these casts, but I'm not increasing my skill set if I don't USE these techniques on a daily basis.

I'm sure I will be more prepared to implement the techniques once I do become a manager, but if I have never used O3's, feedback, or coaching won't it be overwhelming to start everything at the same time?

I would appreciate whatever comments or advice the community may have.

Thanks!

__________

Evan

TomW's picture
Training Badge

What position are you in? Could you use some of the topics, like the "Manage your boss" and "Giving peers feedback"?

WillDuke's picture
Training Badge

You want some real hardcore management experience? Volunteer with your favorite non-profit. Volunteer to head up a project. Oh baby, that's some practice!

vinnie2k's picture

[quote="WillDuke"]You want some real hardcore management experience? Volunteer with your favorite non-profit. Volunteer to head up a project. Oh baby, that's some practice![/quote]
Sports.
Church.
Boyscouts.
Family.

Online gaming ("When you say my mom is a pleasure worker, this is what happens: ...")

:P

juliahhavener's picture
Licensee Badge

I'll admit it - online gaming is a fantastic management setting. No real obligation...but make no mistake that my guild relies on me to turn up at raid time. They rely on me to be prepared for the raid, have the tools for the job, and the skills for the job. If others don't have any of the above, I am frequently called on to give them feedback and/or coaching. I also have years of O3s with gaming...once upon a time I was referred to as the Social Director. If there was something to know about the life of a guildie - it was a fairly safe bet I knew it (still fairly true).

Depending on your job, you may have other opportunities, as well.

itilimp's picture
Licensee Badge

Agreed Julia. Be it running an online guild, band, rp community - they all are great to a point as practice for certain things (in particular your organisational and diplomatic skills!).

The element missing though is the face-to-face practice for which volunteer organisations can fill the gap.

evangilf's picture

That is a GREAT idea. Volunteering would be a fantastic way to get that experience!

Not to mention the inherent value in volunteering for volunteering's sake.

Thanks for the recommendations everyone!

- Evan

Mark's picture
Admin Role Badge

Evan -

I apologize that this has taken me so long.

I agree with volunteering, though it's not easy to implement 1 on 1's there...and feedback would have to be the peer model. Coaching is unlikely there too. These tools work better at work, on an ad hoc team, or project you end up leading.

I do think there are a LOT of casts that help, though: mentoring, email, presenting, resume, prep for your eval, network building, DiSC, Headhunters, handshakes, Parties, etc.

Again, my regrets.

Mark

magnus's picture

Hi Even,

I agree with the general public here. The fastest way to get great management experience today is voluntary organizations.

I was in your position a few years ago, wanting the management experience. I volunteered for the Student Association at my Business School, and it took me one year to get to a management position.

[b]How to get there[/b]
Volunteer at the lowest level. Volunteer to head projects. Achieve results in key areas and propose new projects.

[b]How to apply[/b]
As Mark says, it could be difficult to give feedback and hold O3's in these organizations. However, it is not always that case. When I got in to my management position, I sat down with everyone that would be reporting to me, asked what they wanted from me and told them how I wanted to be doing things. I announced that I would be doing O3's, right then and there, and people where sight. They feel that they are important in the things they are doing on the side as well.

[b]Watch out though[/b]
The best experience and highest risk from the Manager-Tools Pyramid is the feedback. You might learn that you can almost only use positive feedback, and very little of the adjusting. And if you do, you should use peer feedback. If you do this wrong, you are running the risk that people just won't follow you, and you might not achieve the results you want. On the other hand, if you do this the right way, you will have an advantage in your professional life, because you will be used to give lots of positive feedback when people are behaving the way you want them to. And that is a great thing. As M&M, be the spotlight that shine on others.

Good luck Even, and let us know how it works out!

PS! Great to have you back Mark!