When, for the first time, we land the role of team leader or engineer manager, we are en route to a great trap. You see, that opportunity probably appeared because:

a) you were probably the best individual contributor from that team;

or

b) you found yourself looking at the pitfalls of the systems in place and you wanted to be part of the solution

None of these options implies that you have the right tools or the right mindset to start leading people. So we fall into the first big leadership trap: to be a people-pleaser.

Key Points

• You should be friendly with your people.


• But you shouldn’t need to be a pal.


• See yourself as a fatherly figure, a teacher, a mentor and a coach


• A Servant-Leader knows how to love his people


• To love is to fulfil their needs and not their wants

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• "Slider" by Mr Smith