Let’s continue to look at what you think of you and continue our look at ourselves in our mirror. This is a never-ending process because improvement is everywhere along the journey. This is a never-ending process because improvement is everywhere along the journey. 

It’s important to understand, as we get into the management skills area, that how you see yourself is foundational.    You must be comfortable with who you are.  Not only from your perspective, but from others’ perspective as well.  Don’t worry, it should be a fun journey because revelation that leads to development is fun, because it also leads to success.  You’re probably going to find this to be the most difficult part of this discussion, because if you read it and you think about it, you should come out of it challenged. You may come out of it patting yourself on the back saying, “Yes, I’ve got everything all lined up on these things.” You may come out of it thinking, “Well, I’m 50% there.”

You may come out of it thinking you’re only 10% there.  It doesn’t matter where you are. What matters is what you do with the information and look forward to the future.

Questions 4-6

Number four, do you live the golden rule? The golden rule is, ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ Do you live it, or do you turn your back on it?  This is very important, so important that it is in Matthew chapter 7, verse 12. 

The next one, do your employees know you? Do your employees know what motivates you? Do your employees know what your hot buttons are? Everybody has a personality. All leaders have a certain way about how they do things. There’s nothing wrong with that. The important thing is, do your employees know what your hot buttons are?  If they do, if they know you, you’re going to get a lot more quality work done, because they’re not going to be guessing what you’re trying to do next. That doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be an element of uncertainty to a degree, just to keep people sharp. But as far as your day-to-day perspective and your day-to-day expectations, they need to know what that is. If they know you, you will get fewer questions and you will get better results.

Lastly, do your employees trust you? Employees need to trust you. They need to trust that what you do, they can rely on.  As they watch you, they know what they’re seeing and they know that you are who you say you are, so that they don’t have to second guess what you’re doing. 

Keep all these questions in mind as we continue on.  Most of what I am discussing with you will directly or indirectly line up with the correct answers to these questions.  It is an enjoyable journey.  Seeing smiling faces on your employees, and also on those who you report to, is one of the ways to sleep well at night.