Leadership Coaching: Management With Substance, Not Just Style

“These cookies are so cute”, people would rave. Never mind that they taste like sawdust. This is an example of people focusing on style over substance, which happens in the workplace as well.

A smart manager knows that substance matters. Substance gets the manager ahead in their career, getting past cookie cutter managers. Style managers may make an impression and do well at first, but management without substance leads to a dead end. If you want to succeed as a manager, you have to produce substance.

The Style Manager

A manager can use some style elements to progress in their career, but they would not be enough. A style manager can:

• Dress impressively, better than the people below
• Stand out in the crowd and be visible in a good way
• Be closer to the boss
• Communicate remarkably by speaking and writing well
• Project a confident image by being certain of their skills and abilities

The Substance Manager

More importantly though, a manager has to be aware of the substance elements of management success. These are:

• Exceeding expectations and delivering promises
• Involving and including everyone in the team, bringing everybody in discussions and decisions
• Being dependable and consistent, but not rigid
• Being efficient by making plans and schedules and keeping abreast with the use of technology to maximize productivity
• Being a team motivator because managerial success depends on the team doing their best
• Practicing ethics through proper conduct and demanding the same from others

Promotion To Higher Management

A manager dresses the part and acts the part, but is he/she really accomplishing something? Does a manager look like one and performs as one, too? Excelling and moving up in management means you have to prove that you are the best candidate. Are you ready for the new job? The corporate setting is very competitive. Winning over the competition is a fact. As you get promoted, you need to have someone ready to take your place.

Your boss will promote you in a managerial position if he/she thinks you have what it takes to do it. To be qualified, you ought to have the needed

• Skills
• Experiece
• Training

What makes you the better candidate among the rest? Will you make your boss´job easier if you are chosen for the position?

You may possess all these and be qualified for promotion, but to increase your prospects, you have to be replaceable. You´ll have lesser chances of moving up if no one steps in to take over your position. To ascend the managerial career ladder, be qualified, be the best candidate, prove that you are the best choice and have someone suitable ready to replace you.