3a. Lecture 2 - Strategic Self Awareness (9/28)

What We Did: The second CPBE225 lecture was all about what makes someone a good leader, and how managers should work with their employees. We learned about Google's "Project Oxygen": the mission to build better bosses and teams. They analyzed performance reviews, feedback surveys and nominations for top manager awards, and then created programs to develop these skills in their current employees. The 8 traits of stellar managers are:
    1. Be a good coach
    2. Empower your team and don't micromanage
    3. Express interest in team members' success and personal well-being
    4. Don't be a sissy. Be productive and results-oriented.
    5. Be a good communicator and listen to your team.
    6. Help your employees with career development.
    7. Have a clear vision and strategy for the team.
    8. Have key technical skills so you can help advise the team.

The #1 reason for why people leave their job is because they hate their bosses. It is important for managers to take an interest in career development of themselves and their staff. These are the top mistakes that managers make:
    1. Insensitive to others
    2. Cold, aloof, arrogant
    3. Betrayal of trust
    4. Overly ambitious
    5. Specific performance problems with the business
    6. Overmanaging: unable to delegate or build a team
    7. Unable to staff effectively
    8. Unable to think strategically
    9. Unable to adapt to boss with different style
    10. Overdependent on advocate or mentor

From this lecture I learned that one of the most important qualities a good leader should have is emotional intelligence (EQ). Emotional intelligence is how effectively you exercise your emotions to serve you rather than hinder you. Someone with a strong EQ has motivation, empathy, self awareness, self regulation, and social skills. Emotional intelligence accounts for up to 45% of one's job success, while IQ is said to account for less than 6%.


Key Takeaways and Future Applications: This lecture focused on a very interesting topic and brought up ideas that I had never thought about before. I always kind of thought that there was no such thing as a bad boss, and there were just some that were more strict than others. For example, I have had a job working at a crab restaurant called Buddy's Crabs and Ribs in Annapolis, MD for about 4 years now. The owner is the head boss and has been there since the beginning, but I have seen many other managers come and go in my time there. Each one had their own managing style, but this lecture made me realize what things some of the managers could have done differently or what they were good at.

I know of many people who hate their job because of their boss, and I know I don't want that to be me in the future. My dad has his own business and very much enjoys being his own boss. If I am not my own boss in the future, I hope to have a boss who is mature and also trusts his employees. Micromanaging is my pet peeve, and I don't want a boss who is more like a dictator. This lecture has made me realize what I look for in a leader and what qualities I hope to develop in myself as well.