5 Ways to Nail the Manager Mindset, From a CEO

5 Ways to Nail the Manager Mindset, From a CEO My unofficial title at work is Resident Boss Lady. Being bossy or, as they say nowadays thanks to Sheryl Sandberg, possessing executive leadership skills is never something Ive struggled with. Among women, however, the statistics show Im elend always the norm. Thats not because many women arent supremely talented and 100 percent capable of being the boss. Its largely because of how we are raised and taught to behave at school, by our family and on the job starting from a very young age.Im the founder of Cheekys, an $11 million online retail, wholesale, and manufacturing company that makes apparel and jewelry for people who love a country lifestyle. However, our company is based in New Plymouth, Idaho, population 1,538. Finding anyone willing to commute out to work with us can be a real challenge. But over the years, weve had some really exceptional employees as well as some who werent ready to fully embrace their potential. Here are s ome things Ive noticed women often miss when it comes to achieving a manager mindset.1. Solve the problem.As the Resident Boss Lady and CEO of Cheekys, my day is full of hurdles. I dont want the people I hire to yes maam me all day long I hired them because (hopefully) they are smarter than me in some areas and can add real value to my business. I love it when employees point out a problem with our supply chain or shipping methods, especially when they have thought about some potential solutions. That shows real leadership and thoughtfulness.2. Push back, respectfully.Dont tell my husband, but Im actually not always right. If Im going off the rails with a hair-brained idea that Cheekys doesnt have the product or human capacity to execute successfully, I want to hear about it. That doesnt mean talking to your colleagues behind the bosss back. It means privately and respectfully offering constructive feedback on why the plan isnt going to work for you, and some alternate paths forward .3. Learn all you can.One of the most annoying parts of my job is when people ask me questions that they could easily Google to find out the answer. The Internet is full of amazing sites (including this one) that offer free advice, tutorials, e-courses and forums where you can ask questions and increase your value to your employer and your team. Being self-motivated to learn all you can about your industry and how to become a manager is a key sign youre ready to move up the company ladder.4. Be pretty.Now this isnt what you think. As I write about in my book, the concept of being pretty is something my Granny Dee taught me ages ago. Another way of putting it might be Suck it up, buttercup Be pretty to me means to be kind, be professional, and take the high road. Find a way to smile and dont let the situation own you.5. Set some freaking boundaries.Fran Hauser wrote a great book, management or owners. To earn the respect of people you manage, and who manage you, drawing solid boundar ies is key.