More than 50% of human communication is non-verbal. Our tone, facial expressions, and subtle body movements tell a truer story that most of us believe others are not picking up. Join the few who get farther by reading between the lines.
People naturally have strong BS radars. Despite the popularity of the "fake it til you make it" idea, other people effortlessly sense when we are nervous or insecure. This is why success in external matters is rooted in first understanding and conquering ourselves.
There is a lot more to supervising or managing employees than understanding their technical duties. We need a solid grasp on basic human social and emotional needs to effectively provide a team with the sense that they are in good hands and can comfortably perform their best.
Our colleagues at the same level of the hierarchy can be allies or threats. The difference is determined by the relationships we build. Sometimes even the most forthright behavior cannot prevent betrayal and unwarranted political attacks. There are ways to neutralize enemies without sacrificing your honor or integrity.
The natural tendency in all hierarchical structures is for those being managed to think that the managers above them are riding a gravy train. They get paid more to do less. Those of us who have been on both sides of that fence quickly learned that this is not the case. The work is of a different nature and so is the stress. Looking back down, we may even envy how carefree our employees are allowed to be. When they leave work, they have the luxury of switching off. This difference of perspective is what we must keep in mind when we are interacting with our upper managers. We must respect the unknown and be careful not to pollute the ideas and concerns we express with the foul scent of overconfidence.
Nothing great is accomplished by dumb luck. A single victory may occasionally be won on gut feeling. But a continuous run of good fortune requires strategy. Incorporating mental models of systems into our world view provides us with reusable tools for problem-solving in any arena.