Power of Observation

This workplace lesson is taken from an interview with Tracey Matura, general manager for the Smart car unit of Mercedes-Benz USA.  The interview was conducted and condensed by Adam Bryant appearing in The New York Times, March 18, 2012.

Watching the right type of managers and recognizing the wrong type of managers is one of Tracey Matura's important leadership lessons.  Matura says, "You can make a fatal mistake if you watch the person who you perceive as being the most successful, but you’re not necessarily watching the right leadership skills."

In my years as a marketer, I've worked with and observed  managers whose success was achieved at the expense of others and those whose success was achieved because they had the support of others. The latter fosters a collaborative approach and gives people on the team a chance to grow and develop, while the former —authoritative with a penchant for command and control management —can stifle development.  

Using your power of observation while interviewing can give you insight on the type of manager that succeeds in the company which in turn tells you a lot about the corporate culture. Ask the interviewer for a tour - walk the hallways. What do you see? How are you treated in the interview and throughout the process?  Is there a theme or unspoken tone to the questions asked?

And when you start working remember Ms. Matura's leadership lesson." If I hadn’t been an observer, I probably would have followed the wrong path. I don’t know where that would have taken me, to be honest, but I probably would have developed into a not-so-nice leader with more of an authoritative, do-it-my-way style. Instead, I use a mix of a collaborative approach and letting people just fly on their own."

© 2012 More Than A Resumé