A message from Sandy. Managing your staff is one of the most important jobs of a leader, however, don’t overlook your other great challenge–managing yourself. It sounds simple, but you just may be the only thing holding you back from a big breakthrough. Unfortunately, there is no emergency line or  911 to call when dealing with our own problems–so you will just have to create your own game plan.

Here’s a few Do’s and Don’ts for managing yourself more effectively:

DO know yourself. You may be thinking– Duh! But most leaders spend so much time managing others that they don’t take the time to take a hard look at themselves. A 360 evaluation can help, but more importantly is just being open to feedback. Just because you have an open door, doesn’t necessarily mean that your mind is open to what you are hearing. What do you value? What are your blind spots? What have been your biggest mistakes and what did you learn from them?

DO know what you do best. Most people can rattle off a long list of weaknesses, but they are challenged to come up with a clear list of their strengths. If you think this is an exaggeration–be enlightened—sit down with a few of the people you trust most and ask them to give you feedback on what you do best. A few of the things you hear will shock you–in a good way.

DO take control of your career. It is fascinating  how many people are passive with the direction of their careers. They may wait for opportunities to fall into their lap as opposed to  creating their own opportunities. Each week try taking a small amount of personal time to focus on your career goals–you will be surprised how much you can accomplish.

DON’T get stuck in management. Management can end up being your destination each day–spending more time on those details than where your strengths lay and you could be more effective (remember delegation? I know–I know–this requires letting go!) If you find yourself dreading going to work each day, stressing over paperwork, tasks, staffing issues and ready to bite off the head of the first person you see—–it’s time for a change.

Implement some of these tips and people will be looking to you for advice on how to stay sane in a mostly insane workplace.