UPFRONT Using former bosses as guides

Here’s simple tip: invest some time evaluating and reflecting on traits that helped your previous bosses succeed and those that may have held them back. This exercise will provide you with one of the best lists of management do’s and don’ts you’ll ever find.
Ask yourself questions such as these:
* How well did they communicate with others? What specific things did they do when giving instructions, listening, asking and answering questions, disciplining, announcing bad news, following-up, and so on, that worked especially well (or not so well)?
* How did they handle crises and react to bad news?
* Which bosses were exceptionally good at motivating staff? What did they do to help their people excel?
* Which managers were especially savvy about managing their time? What principles and practices did they use to help them?
* What record-keeping techniques did they use that you can adapt to your position?
* How did your more successful bosses handle employee grievances, morale problems and conflicts between employees? What can you learn from your experiences with them?
* What specific measures did they take to develop themselves and their staff? Which of these measures can you apply?
Even though you bring your own unique personality, background and experience to your job, taking the time to reflect on the best and worst practices of your former managers is guaranteed way to develop your own managerial skills.