by John P. Kreiss
If the experience of our clients is an accurate indicator, A/E/C firms
today are having a very difficult time finding managers who have superior
soft skills—interpersonal skills and leadership qualities to guide
teams of diverse professionals. My theory is that when technical people
are promoted to management positions, they are often unprepared for the
non-technical aspects of the job.
Many new managers believe that they should get everybody under them
to be like them and work like they do. Since most people are uncomfortable
changing their approach to their jobs, naturally these dictatorial managers
tend to upset many of their charges. This makes for a stressful situation
for everyone, and leads subordinates to jump ship. Indeed, studies show
that poor management leads directly to higher attrition, higher staffing
costs, and a loss of institutional knowledge.
A lot of people believe that soft skills can’t be taught. I disagree.
Although some people may not be management material no matter what, many
people who struggle with leadership responsibility can improve significantly
with training. I believe that in the long run, oftentimes, it is actually
more beneficial to the firm, not to mention cheaper, to try to correct
someone’s leadership deficiencies through training rather than
let the person go, and try to recruit the right candidate from the outside.
“Emotional intelligence”
Some people do seem to have a natural aptitude for leadership. These individuals
may be blessed with what some call high “emotional intelligence.” This
term has become something of a buzzword in business schools and training
programs, but there is compelling evidence that persons who score high on
emotional intelligence tests tend to be high performers in many lines of
work. (If you’re interested in this topic, www.eiconsortium.org has
a lot of research available.)
There are several definitions of emotional intelligence. To me, the
most important element is the individual’s potential for mastering
the skills of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and
relationship management. These traits translate into success in the workplace.
People who possess them have the ability to understand the motivations,
goals, and interests of the people they lead. Aligning one’s goals
with the people with whom one works is a chief element of being an excellent
manager.
Management boot camps
Numerous studies show that training can help many of those lacking in
the “emotional intelligence” to develop goal empathy, along
with other important leadership qualities. Some companies send new
managers to leadership “boot camps”—weeklong training
sessions dealing with management issues. Individuals who take the training
seriously can learn a lot. Training, by itself, however, is not going
to work wonders. Individuals have to make a strong, sustained effort
every day to apply what they learn.
Few companies seem to offer meaningful training in soft skills to new
managers. Are companies being fair to managers by promoting them without
offering the necessary training? I don’t think so. In many cases,
new managers are thrown into sink-or-swim positions right off the bat.
To make matters worse, too often they are mentored by people with poor
soft skills themselves. However, if your firm has a manager who excels
in leadership, you have a natural asset to mentor new managers. Personal
business coaches—outside consultants who offer periodic unbiased
advice and informal training—can also help new managers boost their
leadership ability.
Don’t accentuate the negative
One of the most common leadership failings is a tendency to focus too
much on subordinates’ weaknesses and not enough on their strengths.
Accentuating the negative breeds frustration, because people feel that
no matter how much effort and skill they put into their jobs, their
boss is going to find fault. Let’s face it, that leadership style
is going to discourage anyone sooner or later.
If an employee is effective in 80 percent of what he or she does, and
the remaining 20 percent needs improvement, it’s best to provide
80 percent positive feedback and 20 percent constructive criticism. This
way the feedback the manager offers accurately reflects how the employee’s
performance is perceived. Don’t get me wrong; deficiencies should
be addressed directly, not swept under the carpet. But, if the feedback
offered is overwhelmingly negative, the employee may very well get the
impression that his or her opportunity for advancement is low, or even
that the job is in jeopardy. When people believe that, it’s no
wonder they seek a new employer.
Leadership training and coaching delves into detail about critical management
issues, such as how to provide feedback effectively. Most people do have
the aptitude to improve their management skills greatly if they are willing
to put forth an honest effort. The key is having an awareness of management
best practices and then applying one’s own personality and experience
to develop the most effective and suitable management style.
Copyright 2005 The American Institute of Architects.
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