**Thinking Like a Manager: Different Ways to Do It**

Have you ever wondered what it means to think like a manager? Well, it's not talked about much, but it's important. You see, some people say you should be a great leader, not a manager. But separating management and leadership isn't a good idea. Leadership without management can make people act arrogant, and management without leadership can lead to a style that lacks inspiration.

One problem with management is that it involves giving instructions. Managers are told to think about the big picture but also focus on the details, work together, and compete, change things while maintaining order, and take care of employees while making sure the numbers add up. So, managers need to juggle these different goals to be effective. This shows that they not only need to focus on the tasks at hand but also on how they think. Managers need different ways of thinking.

**The Mindsets of Managers**

Many businesses are good at getting things done but struggle to step back and look at the big picture. Others get so caught up in their problems that they can't work efficiently. Some companies even have departments with opposite mindsets.

These two things define the limits of management: everything a good manager does is between taking action and thinking deeply. Just thinking without acting is passive, and acting without thinking is careless. Managers need to blend these two ways of thinking to work at the intersection of thoughtful thinking and practical action. But what about action and reflection? One way is to think about it as collaboration, working together with others to achieve goals. Another way is to say that action, reflection, and collaboration should all be based on a deep understanding of reality. This is called the "worldly mindset," which comes from life experience, being practical, and being logical and analytical.

Researchers have found that managers have five different ways of looking at and dealing with the world. Each way has its main focus. Thinking about yourself is about reflection. Thinking about your network is about collaboration. Thinking about the organization is about analysis. Thinking about the world around the organization is about the worldly mindset. And thinking about change is about action.

So, there are five ways managers see the world:

- Self-management: thinking about yourself

- Organizational management: thinking about the organization

- Managing context: thinking about the world around the organization

- Relationship management: thinking about your network

- Change management: thinking about action

Each of these ways of thinking is like a different setting in your mind. They help you see new possibilities. You can't come up with new ideas if you don't reflect on things, for example. And you won't notice new thoughts without a worldly mindset. You can't take action without thinking about it first.

**Using Mindsets Wisely**

Mindsets are like different ways of seeing the world, but you need to be careful not to use them too much. If you use one mindset too much, it can cause problems. For example, if you reflect too much or collaborate too much, it can be a problem.

Companies don't need "mirror people" who only think about themselves, and they also don't need "window people" who can't see beyond what's right in front of them. Instead, companies need managers who can see both ways. Managers today need to take a step back and think carefully about their experiences.

Reflective managers can also look ahead. Good ideas don't just appear; they come from past experiences. Reflective managers value the past and understand how it can help them create a better future.

**The Analytical Mindset in Organizational Management**

Analyzing means taking complicated things and breaking them down into smaller parts. It helps us organize things, especially in big companies. Good analysis helps people share knowledge about why they do things, and it provides ways to measure how well things are going. Organizational structure is also about analysis, as it breaks down work into different parts. But making decisions based on analysis isn't just about numbers; it also involves considering values and other soft data. Deep analysis keeps things complex while helping organizations act. Too much analysis can be a problem, though.

**The Worldly Mindset: Managing Context**

The world might look the same from far away, but it's not. The world is made up of many different places and cultures. Being worldly means understanding the world from different points of view. Managers need to spend time in different places and see how things work there. You need to see the world through other people's eyes to think differently.

**The Collaborative Mindset in Relationship Management**

A collaborative mindset is all about working together. It's not just about giving people power; it's about getting their commitment. Good managers listen more than they talk, and they get out of their offices to see and feel things. They inspire collaboration by being collaborative themselves. They also let others have more control over their work. This kind of leadership lets many ordinary people lead.

**The Action Mindset for Managing Change**

Imagine your company is like a wagon pulled by wild horses. All the people in the company are like those horses, with their feelings, goals, and reasons. Changing direction requires skill, just like keeping a steady course does.

Action isn't just about doing things fast; it's about understanding what your team can do in different situations. Change is happening all the time, but not everything changes. Sometimes, it's important to keep things the same. Managers need to focus on the right things that need to change while keeping everything else the same. It's like handling those wild horses.

So, managers need to use all these mindsets. Some managers are naturally better at one or the other, but they need to work together to be effective. Companies need to combine these different ways of thinking to achieve their goals. It's like weaving different threads together to make a strong fabric. Thinking before acting, reflecting on actions, and working together with others help build an organization that can achieve its purpose.