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credit union manager jerk

It is not illegal for the boss to be a jerk… but it is not good management!  

Sometimes being a jerk can be illegal if your boss is being biased precisely for reasons of race, gender, religion or some other protected class. Other than that, being a jerk is not illegal.

However, being a jerk does not help you to manage an effective work team. Employees that work for a jerk are more likely to miss work, and are less productive. They are also less efficient.

So, what can you do to be seen as a good manager… and not a jerk?

There aren't many natural born leaders. Most leaders take responsibility for training themselves to be effective. Whether they learn from the wisdom of others or get insights from personal experiences, becoming more effective leaders is about what they do, not what they know. 

There are certain key competencies that all good leaders need to have.   An evaluation on your leadership strengths and weaknesses is essential. So, you can work on any deficiencies and improve your skills.

The following are some of the key competencies a good leader must have.

      • Honesty and Integrity. Say it straight. Be sincere, but don’t be rude or insensitive. Being honest makes employees feel like they know where they stand with you at all times. It builds trust. Truthful/honest leaders are respected. Employees feel they are worth listening to.  Employees are more likely to follow leaders that are honest and they are more likely to meet their commitments to them, as well.
      • Genuine. Be clear on what your values are and be consistent in applying them. Be true to your word. Employees can sense someone who is faking it. 

      • Focus. Know where you're going and have a strong stated mission to lead people effectively.

      • Passion. Have passion for what you're doing. Passion is contagious. Attitude starts at the top.

      • Respectful. Being the leader doesn’t mean that you have automatically earned respect. Too many leaders take their titles and authority for granted. Leaders set the tone and are important role models. Leaders are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get involved. They readily model the attitudes and behaviors they want to see in their employees.

      • Persuasive. People have to believe in you and your credibility. Image is everything and the belief people have in you, your product, your mission, your facts or your reputation are key to being a great leader. You have to persuade people of this, it doesn't just happen.

      • Confidence. If you don't believe in yourself, no one will. The reality is people want to know what you know, and what you don't. Leaders have the confidence to say "I don't know."

      • Compassion. The strongest, most effective leaders care not just about the business, but about the people in it. Plus, they show they care through their words and actions. Talented people want to work for leaders and organizations that truly care about their employees and the communities in which they operate.

      • Engaging. Great business leaders are able to get all members of their teams engaged. They do this by offering them challenge, seeking their ideas and contributions and providing them with recognition for their contributions.

      • Empowering. True leaders make their employees feel that they are part of the organization and have input into what goes on. Empowered employees are committed, loyal and conscientious. They are eager to share ideas and can serve as strong ambassadors for their organizations.

      • Communicative. True leaders share their vision or strategy often with those around them.  Leaders communicate with clarity. Simple and concise is always better than complicated and confusing.  Leaders realize and accept that clear communication is always a two-way process. It’s not enough to speak clearly; you have to make sure you’re being heard and understood.

      • Listening.  Leaders know when to shut up and listen. There are two types of listening: hearing what is said and actively understanding what is said. By practicing more effective listening techniques, leadership becomes easier as you better understand what you are being told instead of your interpretation of the speaker’s words.

      • Supportive. You need to foster a positive environment that allows your team to flourish. Also by aligning the reward and recognition systems that best match your teams profile and deliver results. 

This is just a partial list of competencies that a great leader needs to have.  Focus on what you do not think you are successful in and what you need to do to make some changes.

Don’t be that jerk … be that successful leader.

By Susan Looney, SVP Human Resources, Credit Union Resources, Inc.

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