Page 17 - Becoming a Successful Manager

8 KNOWING THE TERRITORY

they undertake. They are also inappropriately frivolous and allow
themselves to become mired in matters that have nothing to do
with attaining meaningful results.
As you can see, professionalism and success as a manager
are more than merely titles, credentials, and getting paid well
for what one does. They are about a person’s demeanor and atti-
tude when dealing with a disparate group of people and properly
handling a variety of work-related issues or problems. The most
important thing when all is said and done is, be a mensch.

Being a Mensch

Being a successful manager begins with being a good person—a
mensch. A mensch is a respectful and genuine person who is
sensitive and appropriately responsive to others’ feelings. To
qualify as a mensch, you must embody and consistently exhibit
the following principles, attitudes, and behaviors in dealings with
people:

• Be a perpetual student and learn from everyone, regardless
of education, age, position, status, or geographic culture.
• In your desire to understand people, ask appropriate ques-
tions, in an appropriate way, at an appropriate time, and in
an appropriate place.
• Act responsibly and kindly toward yourself and others.
• Listen attentively to what people say, both verbally and non-
verbally, and respond appropriately to their messages.
• Demonstrate a genuine regard for all people’s feelings, and
accept those feelings as being valid.