Every once in a while we see a great player try to take on the job of coaching. It doesn't happen often. With good reason. Both roles are difficult and demanding. Neither gets the attention required to produce an excellent product. The player/coach doesn't last long.

I think of this metaphor when I consider what it takes to be a good manager. The management role takes dedication, attention to detail and a certain amount of training. The sad fact remains that most of us get into management as a part time gig. I did.

Fortunately for me, I was able to transition from manager/technician to full-time management. I had to make a decision. I had to go full-time. Either as a manager or a technical worker. For me, the decision was easy. I enjoy management. It is my profession. More particularly, I am a technical manager.

The reality is that most of us management types spend a significant portion of our career as player/coaches. We get pulled between these two separate and distinct paths. Our bosses expect a certain level of competence from us in our management roles. We are also expected to keep up with our technical knowledge and tackle technical projects. And, if that isn't bad enough, this usually happens to us when we are in the early phase of our career, when we are in the formative stages of our management and technical skills.

Is there no hope for the management equivalent to the player/coach? It isn't easy. And to be truthful, most of the time it isn't possible to avoid the player/coach role. And, to be even more direct, most of us don't even realize that there is a problem. That's the first step. Understanding the problem...........
9:27:29 PM    comment []