Often, I come across someone advising another person, “somehow manage it”, and ironically this talent of “somehow manage it” has become a well-regarded skill. “Somehow manage it” leads to pushing things under the carpet, it encourages a toxic culture, brings unwanted long-term stress, hides the real issues and paints the picture good.

Occasionally people get away with it but more often the matter comes back to bite the stakeholders big time. “You will be gone; I will be gone so somehow manage it for now” kind of attitude of “managing” things will not help anyone in the long run. We need people to take ownership, address the real issues and be accountable for their actions and outcomes, not “manage it somehow”.

There will be situations that demand immediate resolutions which may not be optimal or complete, but it is important not to forget to return and address the actual root causes after the time pressure has eased. That is what is the right thing to do, that is what differentiates managers from leaders, that is what leaders do!