How to Find a Balance Between Management and Leadership in Green Tech
Posted June 30th, 2014
Green tech is a fast paced and constantly evolving field that seems to undergo a sea change every five years. With change happening so rapidly, it’s easy to think that the field needs bold, innovative, forward thinking leaders. It does, but for the same reasons, it requires great managers too.
If green tech is going to succeed as both an economically and ecologically sustainable business model, it needs upper level employees that can function as both leaders and managers. It’s a tricky balance to strike, but a necessary one if the industry as a whole is ever going to succeed. As you look towards the future, use these tips to help you be the dynamic presence your team is looking for.
Provide Feedback
Never neglect an opportunity to tell a team member what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. Keeping your team informed about your specific expectations gives everyone the opportunity to succeed.
Be There for Your Team
Regardless of whether you consider yourself a manger or a leader, you need to be a vocal, visible, and approachable presence for your team. No matter how busy you are, or how thoroughly you have delegated, make yourself available to answer questions, address concerns, and mitigate workplace dramas.
Strike the Right Tone
No one wants a boss to rule with an iron fist, but being too friendly is just as big a problem. Eventually, you will have to make hard decisions, and it’s your responsibility to accept the consequences of those decisions. By being firm but fair, and friendly within boundaries, you position yourself as a boss – not a buddy or a tyrant.
Define Goals
The success of your green tech enterprise depends on having clearly defined short, medium, and long-term goals. Without having something to work towards, your team will meander through it’s work week. Make sure to clearly and vocally define your goals, and back them up with metrics as much as possible.
Be Your Best Employee
Nothing bruises morale of damages credibility faster than when your team sees you taking an extended lunch, playing games on the computer, or otherwise displaying behavior you would reprimand others for. If you want to be a good manager and a good leader, it’s incumbent on you to set an example for your team.
Finding the right balance between your roles as manager and leader isn’t easy, and you can be forgiven if there are some missteps along the way. But if you are serious about the growth of your business specifically, and the expansion of green tech generally, it’s up to you to lead the charge. Rely on resources from Bayside Solutions to realize tomorrow’s potential today.
