Wednesday's Iké: Manager Shows Faith

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Post on Nov 23, 2024

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Wednesday's Iké: Manager Shows Faith - A Story of Trust and Growth

Hey everyone, so I wanted to share a story, a real story, about something that happened to me a few years back. It's about building trust, showing faith in your team, and how that can completely change everything. It's about Iké, and Wednesdays.

The Low Point: Iké's Struggle

This all started on a Wednesday – a particularly rough Wednesday. I was managing a small team at a marketing agency, and things were, to put it mildly, stressful. Deadlines were looming, clients were breathing down our necks, and one member of my team, Iké, was really struggling. He was a talented graphic designer, no doubt, but he was young, a little green, and his confidence was shot. His work was sloppy. He was missing deadlines. I was starting to lose faith.

It was Wednesday afternoon, and I had just seen the latest draft of a crucial presentation Iké was working on. It was a disaster. Seriously, a complete mess. My first instinct? To yell. To tell him he was screwing up. To replace him. To just basically lose it, you know? But something stopped me. I took a deep breath (a technique I learned in anger management, btw, super helpful).

A Change of Heart: Showing Trust

I decided to do something completely different, something I hadn't really done before, at least not with this level of intensity. Instead of focusing on his mistakes, I focused on him. I took some time out of my busy Wednesday and sat down with Iké. I asked him what was going on, not in an accusatory way, but a genuine, caring way. I knew this was going to be key if I was to get through this tough time. I knew I had to be patient. I needed to create a safe space for him to open up. I even used the active listening techniques I learned in that communication workshop last year.

What I learned was shocking and surprising. Iké was dealing with serious family issues, issues that were totally distracting him from his work. He felt overwhelmed, inadequate, and like he was letting me down. He was stressed out! And this lack of confidence was impacting his performance. I didn't even know how to respond.

The Turning Point: Faith in Action

That's when I decided to show him some real faith. I didn't magically fix his family issues. What I did do was offer support, flexibility, and the promise of patience. I adjusted his deadlines, paired him with a more experienced designer for mentoring, and offered him additional training in time management and stress reduction techniques. I was willing to do anything I could to help him succeed. It was probably one of the most important management decisions I'd made. It was definitely a risk, but I knew it was the right thing to do.

I learned a lot that day. One, listening is key to managing. Two, faith is a management tool and it's something to be used more often. Three, sometimes the best thing you can do for a struggling employee isn't to criticize, but to genuinely support them.

The Results: A Testament to Trust

The change in Iké was almost immediate. He responded to the trust I had shown him. His work improved dramatically, his confidence soared, and he became one of my most valuable team members. That was a great lesson in showing empathy.

That experience taught me the power of empathy and trust in the workplace. My entire management style changed after that Wednesday.

Key Takeaways:

• Empathy trumps criticism: Sometimes people just need help, not more pressure.
• Flexibility is crucial: Rigid deadlines can crush morale and productivity.
• Invest in your team: Training, mentorship, and genuine support pay off big time.
• Faith is a powerful management tool: Believe in your team, and they'll believe in themselves.

This experience with Iké completely reshaped my approach to management and became one of my greatest learning experiences. And it all started on a Wednesday. Sometimes, the hardest days lead to the greatest breakthroughs. What about you? Share your stories!