Manager's Life Cycle

Just like customer’s life cycle, even a manager has life cycle.

First step of manager’s life cycle is ‘Acknowledgement’- Is your team accepting you? Do they at least acknowledge your existence in the team? Many managers struggle at this very first step and live a faceless professional life.

Second step in manager’s life cycle is ‘Appreciation’- Those who have crossed the first step generally strive for this second step. Appreciation is a complement from your team, your manager and others for your work. Many managers professional journey is ends at this step only! Many managers end up thinking that 'Being appreciated' is the final achievement of the professional life. Wise managers know it is not!

The third and most difficult step for any manager is ‘Influence’- You are going back to influencing your team upward and downward to agree to your points. Influencing involves changing your teams thought process, making their opinions, convincing them to change their stand. And, it is the epitome of the managerial skills!

In first two steps, the flow of the energy is from others to self. Others acknowledge you or others appreciate you but in third stage the flow of energy is reversed and it flows from you to others and that is the reason it turns difficult, it becomes challenging!

In any profile or domain, if manager has lived all the three stages then it indicates that manager has traveled the learning curve and obtained necessary skill to succeed in that particular domain or role. Hence, this is the stage where manager may think to move ahead!

As a meditating manager reflect and ask yourself - Where are you standing on Manager's life cycle? Are you struggling to create your identity and getting acknowledged in your team? Are you struggling to finish the task and get compliments for it? Or Are you contended with the applause coming to you for your work? Or Or Or...Have you turned into a great influencer? Where do you stand as a manager?

By,
Pushkar Korhalkar