During my career it became apparent to me that having insight into a situation was essential to an effective resolution. What a Captain Obvious observation!
As a young sales manager I was sure I knew what my team should in any given situation, Why shouldn’t my charges do what seemed right to me?
Little did I realize that this tone deaf approach was a turn off! My employer put all of its young managers through a 360 degree process. Each of my direct reports completed a blind survey of me that measured my effectiveness on a number of managerial competencies. They results were aggregated and I was given their collective analysis of my performance. The results were eye opening. I was not seen in the positive way I saw myself.
This insight was the beginning of a long process of self discovery that led me to become me a better manager. The essential ingredient to the process was insight. My eyes were wide open! I learned that I was not viewed as the all knowing expert in any given situation, Given this glimpse into how my team saw me was hugely effective in getting me to see myself through the eyes of others. INSIGHT!