Start with behavior

In this brief post, Seth Godin neatly distills an essential component of relationship. He’s talking about online relationship, but he might as well be talking about the management relationship (or any other in life).

The component is behavior: the simple and fundamental truth that others’ perceptions of us are based on what we do.

Godin says: “The biggest takeaway for me is this: online interactions are largely expected to be intentional. On purpose. Planned. People assume you did stuff for a reason.”

This is a great statement, and I’m taking the liberty of applying it more widely. If you’re a manager, type this out somewhere and stick it to your wall:

Management actions are largely expected to be intentional. On purpose. Planned. People assume you did stuff for a reason.

Great managers may or may not have talent, incisive intelligence, extensive vocabulary, variety of experience, higher education or the right clothes. What great managers all have is the behavioral skills of great management. If you want to be a great manager, that’s where it starts.