I managed geophysical work from 14 to 21, and from 22 I have been managing business projects – conversation club for geologists, a content agency and now manages GeoConversation media. Usually I have 5-7 people subordinate to me.
I hire and fire people, I am fully responsible for both the business project and how to carry out electrical exploration work somewhere in Yakutia. I negotiate with customers and clients, and am responsible for accountable money and equipment purchases.
I began managing business projects when I was already in psychotherapy. Therefore, I began to notice and correct many mistakes. Maybe my team will come to the comments and write how I manage to lead now?
Top 3 mistakes of the head of a geophysical team
I will describe the mistakes that I mainly made as a geophysicist in the fields.
Yelled at subordinates
I didn’t know how to conflict, the tactic was either to avoid the problem or go on the warpath, after which only a scorched field remained. For example, I was dissatisfied with the work of an employee, but I did not start a conversation until steam started coming out of me like a kettle and the conversation turned into swearing. I could also be driven into a state of disrepair by my superiors, problems with equipment, fatigue, and then, unable to cope with anger or irritation, I could simply lash out at the team.
Previously, it seemed to me that in order to avoid such a problem, you just had to not experience negative emotions. The psychologist had the same request: I don’t want to feel anything. After all, there is no place for emotions at work. But this is not true, ignoring it will only make it worse.
Emotions are an excellent indicator that there is a problem and it needs to be solved.
Someone has pissed you off, first you need to calm down, and then start talking. You can talk to a friend, go to sports, do something to cool your head
How can you calm down when you are in the forest and there are only 6 people in the camp, and by the third month of work it is already difficult to move out of shared accommodation? I don’t know, maybe this is a topic for material on how to resolve conflicts where people are forced to be together all the time.
If the screaming did happen, we are all human, then sincerely apologize. You cannot yell at your colleagues under any circumstances.
Toxicity
I easily fell into abusive work relationships. They twisted me into a ram’s horn, manipulating me with guilt. In this state, I was not solving work problems, but living in a world where everything was against me. Working with a twitchy, aggressive and, to put it mildly, inadequate leader is a pleasure.
Now, if it seems to me that there is some kind of rat race going on, then it doesn’t seem like it. It will only get worse. I can already notice this, but I still don’t know how to protect myself.
Limited in growth
I didn’t see my value as a leader. I thought that my benefit was only to press buttons on the equipment, and not that I organized the work from scratch. It seemed to me that if I taught a student how to operate the meter now, they would immediately replace me. I don’t think so anymore.
These were probably the most serious mistakes as a leader. God bless psychotherapy.
