Meet Trevor

I'm going to recount an experience now that illustrates the consequences of correcting someone's behavior when it gets out of line, but also what happens if you don't do it in a timely manner! It also exposes a source of conflict for managers everywhere.

Note

Tip

There will be times in your new role when you may not agree with company policy, but as a manager, you will have to enforce it. Act as if you fully support it.

If you have to gripe about it then do it to your manager. In the long term, it will weaken your leadership position if you consistently take the approach of "The company says…" or "The MD wants us to…". Your people must work for you and they must see alignment between yours and the company's direction.

If you have anarchic tendencies, take the Frank Sinatra approach: leave and start your own business (I did it my way).

Trevor was exceptionally clever. I inherited him when I managed an established and well respected team, for which he was a team leader. He had many...