35 Indispensable Leadership Truths for Managers

            THE CASUAL MENTOR      HoppertyProperty,LLC.

1. Choosing realistic driven expectations with a purpose in mind is the key to success. Experienced managers know they must stay focused on what is attainable. “If you don’t know exactly where you’re going… how will you know you’ve arrived when you get there?” - Steve Maraboli
2. A sense of urgency is a desirable trait. Top managers are expected to routinely perform timely action-oriented decisions. “If we wait until we’re ready… we’ll be waiting for a long time.” - Unknown 
3. Roadblocks are considered minor hurdles on the road to success for determined managers. They refuse to take no for an answer. “Other people and things can stop you temporarily. However, you are the only one who can do it permanently.” - Zig Ziglar
4. Top managers listen to their heart and pay attention to their intuition while making a decision.”It’s impossible,” said pride. “It’s risky,” said experience. “It’s pointless,” said reason. “give it a try.” whispered the heart. - Unknown - “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to be. Everything else is secondary.” - Steve Jobs
5. Let self confidence become a hallmark in establishing your reputation. Don’t let distractors alter or destroy your self esteem. “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” - Suzy Kassem - “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t… you’re right.” - Henry Ford
6. It’s not always a good idea to follow the herd. Be proud of your unique character traits. Only you can define who you are and what makes you tick. “He that has truth in his heart need never fear the want of persuasion on his tongue.” - John Ruskin
7. Always keep your sense of humor at the ready. There will be many opportunities for you to laugh at yourself. You must be able to take the brunt of others jokes. “When you can laugh at yourself no one can ever make a fool of you.” - Joan Rivers
8. Take ownership and hold yourself accountable for your mistakes. Remember, we live in an imperfect world. Murphy’s Law is a good reminder that there’s a never ending number of inevitable mishaps just around the corner. “Timing has a lot to do with rain dances and everything else.” - Unknown
9. To be a good role model you must lead by example. Everybody wants to look up to someone. Be that someone. “Be the change you want to see.” - Mahatma Gandhi
10. Take the initiative, and the first step regardless of your fears. If you’re a “lead dog” you must tackle worthwhile pursuits knowing full well there are risks attached to them. “You can’t tell how deep a puddle is until you step in it.” - Miller’s Law
11. Be patient when seeking a promotion. A move up the career ladder will arrive if deserved. “Be careful who you step on while on your way up… you may see them again on the way back down.” - Wilson Mizner - “Train your people well enough so they can leave, then treat them well enough they won’t ever want to leave” - Richard Branson
12. Use every opportunity to recognize accomplishments of those around you. “Catching someone doing things right has a better result in building confidence than catching someone doing something wrong.” - Ken Blanchard 
13. Avoid showing favorites. Putting your superstars on a pedestal can be detrimental to the rest of the teams motivational health.“We can’t hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening your own.” - Ben Sweetland - “Treat people like they make a difference. And they will.” - Jim Goodnight
14. Hidden talent will be revealed when a passion for something reaches a fever pitch. “The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.” - Vince Lombardi 
15. Treat everyone with respect and follow the Golden Rule. “Have you noticed that once you care about other people, they suddenly care about you?” - Henry Ford
16. Be humble. If you feel the need to boast, then talk about accomplishments of a protege you have helped develop. “A good leader is a person who takes little more than his share of the blame and little less than his share of the credit.” - John C. Maxwell
17. Learn to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Find an oasis for your thoughts and let your mind drift into a dreamworld of your own making. By occasionally providing a relaxed atmosphere for your thoughts to wander you can activate your creative side. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Mahatma Gandhi
18. There’s nothing wrong with taking advantage of someone’s help. Most of us don’t ask for help because we think that by exposing our ignorance we will be seen as a liability to the team and/or the company. “I have learned that the easiest way for me to grow… is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.” Andy Rooney
19. Confidence comes from successfully winning a few uphill battles. Life's battles will become less of a concern over time. Lessons learned during the most difficult times prepares one for the future. “Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment.” - Barry B. LePatner
20. Your character traits are acquired gradually and must include foundational blocks composed of core values like honesty and integrity. “Integrity is doing the right thing even when nobody is watching.” - C. S. Elliot
21. Learning to walk the talk is like riding a bicycle. Once you learn how to do it you’ll never forget. “I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” - Abraham Lincoln 
22. Look at the patina of an elder statesman or manager as a badge of honor. The wisdom of a sage is acquired through the passing of time. “We must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been.” - Sophocles 
23. Listen to those who have experience in areas you have yet to conquer. “If you want to go somewhere, it’s best to find someone who’s been there.” - Robert Kiyosaki - “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.” - African Proverb
24. Don’t wear your heart or the gaudiness of your success on your sleeve. Everyone likes to think they’re more successful than the next guy. There’s nothing wrong with keeping up with the Jone’s, but be careful not to flaunt your success when you pass them by. “The nail that sticks its head up is the one that gets hit. “ - Japanese proverb   
25. Listen more and talk less in all circumstances. Your actions will always speak louder than your words. “Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.” – Lao Tzu - “It’s better to keep one’s mouth shut and be thought a fool rather than open it and resolve all doubt. - Unknown - “Never miss a good chance to shut up.” - Will Rogers
26. If your argument or point of view fails to persuade someone…. then, agree to disagree and let it go. When emotionally charged rhetoric is avoided the points of disagreement will be less of a concern. “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” - Mark Twain 
27. Don’t put off to tomorrow what you can do today. No one wants to get bogged down in red tap. Try to keep the legal department and human resources from dictating how you manage things. “Delay is the deadliest form of denial.” - C. Northcote Parkinson - “Today is the day…I was going to do so much about yesterday.” - Unknown
28. There's no excuse for lack of imagination. Top managers learn how to think like a fortune teller. A little foresight helps in successfully managing neophytes entering the workplace. “Vision is not seeing things as they are, but as they will be.” - Gil T. Figaro
29. A solid education isn’t the only part of a resume that will get the attention of an employer. We live in a rapidly changing world. The learning process never ends. Managerial candidates should find Pilot Projects and/or Preceptorships that will give them the experience of a trial run. “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” Ben Franklin - “If you think education is too expensive, try ignorance.” - Derek Bok 
30. New hires shouldn’t be guaranteed their job. Entry level employees usually have a trial period (6-12 months) that includes training.This helps a manager to determine whether new employees are able to perform their duties and whether they’re a good fit with their team. “No man can climb out beyond the limitation of his own character.” - John Morley
31. New managers shouldn’t be afraid of losing or being wrong. New managers are expected to ask dumb questions and make a few mistakes. But eventually the not-so-new manager must “fish or cut bait.” “How you think when you lose determines how long it will be until you win.” - G. K. Chesterton
32. When joining a management team, it’s incumbent upon the new manager to find advisors/mentors who’ll assist them in learning the ropes. ”Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and the thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see greatness within you, even when you don’t see it in yourself.” - Edmund Lee 
33. No leader should be given the reins of responsibility for directing or managing a team without understanding the needs of their customers. How can any manager, or marketing team, executive or president of a company be successful without knowing what keeps a customer happy? “Customer needs may vary, but their bias for quality never does.” - J. W. “Bill” Marriott
34. Emotional Intelligence capabilities can be critical to the success of any manager, regardless of tenure. New managers can’t shoot from the hip, carry a grudge, or act irrationally to be successful. “People are like tea bags.They never know their own strength until they get into hot water.” - Unknown
35. Challenge yourself and your team to reach new heights. By challenging yourself and your team you’ll learn things about your team members you may not expect. You’ll find that not everyone will have the same kind of devotion, determination, or motivation that you have. “Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.” - Samuel Johnson