How Can Managers Develop Leadership Skills to Stay Resilient in Tough Situations?

Dear all,

I am a student of MBA-HR. As a manager, when a person works in a company, many times he has to handle many critical situations where he feels very low, i.e., mentally or emotionally. This may be due to concerns about any big problem, harsh words from seniors, or from customers, etc. In these situations, a manager has to be like a bulletproof shield where none of these external factors will affect his work, capability, or decision-making power.

I am working on a project where I have to study how a manager can become a bulletproof manager. In my project, I have to study it in the context of leadership skills; that is, how a manager has to work on his leadership skills to become a bulletproof manager.

I would appreciate your help on this. Please give me your suggestions and share your experiences in this context. You can email me at pranalimgm06@yahoo.co.in.

Looking forward to your affirmative reply.

Regards,
Pranali

Dear Pranali,

The basic quality of the Bulletproof Manager, in my opinion, is that he should be patient when faced with criticism and examination by customers. Critics always provide a way to find solutions to problems at any time. Secondly, while we learn many things from books with theoretical examples, dealing with face-to-face practical situations is always challenging. However, with practice, these situations can be handled smartly, exchanging information through effective communication channels with both bosses and customers. Respecting their views also greatly helps in becoming a bulletproof manager. I kindly request you to send your project after its completion so that I can learn more about becoming such a manager.

Regards,
Sanjeev
Email: sanja_india@rediffmail.com

Hi,

"Bullet Proof Manager" - Good title. How is this applicable only to a manager? To me, this is applicable to all individuals who are facing customers directly. Earlier, we used to have only Sales taking a bite. With changing business needs, every person has a customer. Some have internal and others have external.

Some of the things that a person should have up their sleeves to face crises or conditions are:

1. Work closely with your manager. Keep them informed about even the smallest things that you are doing. Provide them with information about what is going right and wrong. By doing so, they are aware and do not say, "You should have informed me earlier" or "What have you done to close this issue?"

2. Develop alternate plans. Provide various solutions to customers to resolve the issue or meet the need. That is the need of the hour.

3. As a manager, be clear in setting expectations for his/her customers. Communicate what is possible and what needs help to close...

4. Inform customers/clients of shortcomings as early as possible. For example, if sales are not going to meet their target, the company will not accept it. Strategically, share the challenges being faced in the quarterly review. By doing this, everyone is aware that targets are slipping this year. Plan alternatives to achieve them.

5. Be ready to take responsibility for mistakes and be proactive in finding a long-term solution rather than a short-term one to handle the crisis.

These are some of the key points. There could be many more.

Hope this is helpful.

Regards

Thank you for your reply.

What you are talking about is correct, but those are preventive measures. What I am looking for is what a manager can do in a situation of crisis. What things he has to do, how he has to react, what way he has to behave, and how he has to handle the situation using his leadership skills. What are the attributes his leadership skills should have to deal with that kind of situation...

I hope you understood my question very well. If anyone has had such kind of experience, please share it with me. It will be great help for me.

Regards,
Pranali