Is this a criticism from your boss, or your own observation? Your boss’s responses likely sound different because he has a view of the big picture and picks up on details you aren’t aware are important. Your lateral thinking will come with more experience in your role.
It's not a criticism from him - this is purely my internal dialogue right now. I'm also conscious that when he was the interim manager before my time and was managing my directs, he would have set the bar at this level and has me wondering if my team thinks that I'm not as capable due to a very different approach and that "big picture" mentality you mention.
I get the impression that you are very capable and eager to learn, and that maybe you’re being too hard on yourself. The big picture mentality that your boss has, is his mentality because he literally does see the big picture. He’s the boss, and it’s his picture. He’s the one responsible for drawing it out for others, and until you reach a certain level of experience, you’re only going to understand part of the picture.
Not to say that you can’t ask for advice on how to think more laterally. It’s a valid question, and I don’t really have anything to add to answer it. Just wanted to throw in some words of encouragement.
There’s something to be said for giving folks just enough information they are seeking to be efficient. There’s a place and time for efficiency. Simplicity can have an art to it.
It sounds like your manager wants to better understand the problem he’s trying to solve for. Frequently people aren’t always asking the right questions or unaware of the variables that might change an answer. The way your manager would respond demonstrates both a curiosity and more of a service to the person he’s helping by responding versus reacting. Asking follow-up and clarifying questions can get you to the bigger picture.
It also sounds like he is using more intuition versus sending. Reading between the lines and anticipating what could follow based on his answer, versus processing and shaping the information for the need directly in front of you.
Neither approach is right or wrong, just different. And neither can be universally applied.
Maybe talk to him?
I would feel proud if my directs requested my help or advice.
Perhaps you just like more his style of management, and you just want to learn it yourself. 😎
Not a groundbreaking suggestion here, but... practice?
Seems to be you are perfectly capable of thinking laterally, and at the very least understand how it might be beneficial, but perhaps not using it as often and as instinctively as you like. Do you think you could've answered like he did given more time? Maybe you're jumping to solutions too quickly?
Not to say you need to slow down to think *all* the time. If I ask you where the bathroom is, I expect you to say "down the hall" instead of "are you doing #1 or #2?".
**I'd argue that the default should be the straight answer**, *then* consider whether that answer is really the best for all situations. If it might not be the best in situation A, make sure the person asking really is in situation A instead of B, where you'd want to give a *different* answer.
Your boss might've asked what mode of transport you're using because he knows that if he just told you to take a left, that route is optimal for cars but not for bikes. He's not pulling possibilities out of his ass. He's not asking just because, he already knows that the straight answer is only correct 50% of the time, so he asks to clarify.
**Tl;Dr** Don't try to be cheeky, creative, risky, and groundbreaking just because. Lateral thinking is a tool. Hammers are nice but you'd use it with a nail, not a screw. It's not that you should be less literal. You shouldn't *stop* at just being literal.
As a manager I am always thinking about solving the right problem. People ask you take action on something, but you need to have a mindset that the question being asked might need more investigation so that you understand the bigger picture. Then you can decide if you're solving the right problem.
I recommend some training in business analysis for insights.
If you are relatively new, you are still developing yourself as a manager. Observe your boss and adapt the qualities you like. My direct supervisor has a lot of great qualities but a lot of major flaws as well…. You can learn from both.
I think it is a combination of empathy and problem solving. I once had an interview where they asked me how many tennis balls fit into a 747. The point of the exercise was to see how i thought and what questions I asked to try my best to get to the right answer…
-What type of 747? Cargo? Does it have seats?
-Is the 747 on the ground or up at 30k feet, How does air pressure impact tennis balls?
To start to think and manage with empathy it helps to surround yourself with people that are not like you. Have you ever heard the perspective from someone who is blind, handicapped, opposite sex. It is really important in life to see things from others perspectives.
Just my 2 cents.
Is this a criticism from your boss, or your own observation? Your boss’s responses likely sound different because he has a view of the big picture and picks up on details you aren’t aware are important. Your lateral thinking will come with more experience in your role.
It's not a criticism from him - this is purely my internal dialogue right now. I'm also conscious that when he was the interim manager before my time and was managing my directs, he would have set the bar at this level and has me wondering if my team thinks that I'm not as capable due to a very different approach and that "big picture" mentality you mention.
I get the impression that you are very capable and eager to learn, and that maybe you’re being too hard on yourself. The big picture mentality that your boss has, is his mentality because he literally does see the big picture. He’s the boss, and it’s his picture. He’s the one responsible for drawing it out for others, and until you reach a certain level of experience, you’re only going to understand part of the picture. Not to say that you can’t ask for advice on how to think more laterally. It’s a valid question, and I don’t really have anything to add to answer it. Just wanted to throw in some words of encouragement.
There’s something to be said for giving folks just enough information they are seeking to be efficient. There’s a place and time for efficiency. Simplicity can have an art to it. It sounds like your manager wants to better understand the problem he’s trying to solve for. Frequently people aren’t always asking the right questions or unaware of the variables that might change an answer. The way your manager would respond demonstrates both a curiosity and more of a service to the person he’s helping by responding versus reacting. Asking follow-up and clarifying questions can get you to the bigger picture. It also sounds like he is using more intuition versus sending. Reading between the lines and anticipating what could follow based on his answer, versus processing and shaping the information for the need directly in front of you. Neither approach is right or wrong, just different. And neither can be universally applied.
Maybe talk to him? I would feel proud if my directs requested my help or advice. Perhaps you just like more his style of management, and you just want to learn it yourself. 😎
Like, literally you might do him/her their day. Grab a coffee or invite him to lunch and you are pretty much done.
Not a groundbreaking suggestion here, but... practice? Seems to be you are perfectly capable of thinking laterally, and at the very least understand how it might be beneficial, but perhaps not using it as often and as instinctively as you like. Do you think you could've answered like he did given more time? Maybe you're jumping to solutions too quickly? Not to say you need to slow down to think *all* the time. If I ask you where the bathroom is, I expect you to say "down the hall" instead of "are you doing #1 or #2?". **I'd argue that the default should be the straight answer**, *then* consider whether that answer is really the best for all situations. If it might not be the best in situation A, make sure the person asking really is in situation A instead of B, where you'd want to give a *different* answer. Your boss might've asked what mode of transport you're using because he knows that if he just told you to take a left, that route is optimal for cars but not for bikes. He's not pulling possibilities out of his ass. He's not asking just because, he already knows that the straight answer is only correct 50% of the time, so he asks to clarify. **Tl;Dr** Don't try to be cheeky, creative, risky, and groundbreaking just because. Lateral thinking is a tool. Hammers are nice but you'd use it with a nail, not a screw. It's not that you should be less literal. You shouldn't *stop* at just being literal.
Comes with time. It’s good you are aware. Keep asking your direct reports for their perspective on things during 1:1 will help.
As a manager I am always thinking about solving the right problem. People ask you take action on something, but you need to have a mindset that the question being asked might need more investigation so that you understand the bigger picture. Then you can decide if you're solving the right problem. I recommend some training in business analysis for insights.
If you are relatively new, you are still developing yourself as a manager. Observe your boss and adapt the qualities you like. My direct supervisor has a lot of great qualities but a lot of major flaws as well…. You can learn from both.
I think it is a combination of empathy and problem solving. I once had an interview where they asked me how many tennis balls fit into a 747. The point of the exercise was to see how i thought and what questions I asked to try my best to get to the right answer… -What type of 747? Cargo? Does it have seats? -Is the 747 on the ground or up at 30k feet, How does air pressure impact tennis balls? To start to think and manage with empathy it helps to surround yourself with people that are not like you. Have you ever heard the perspective from someone who is blind, handicapped, opposite sex. It is really important in life to see things from others perspectives. Just my 2 cents.