Do you want to make a difference as a manager? Stop fitting into the mould. Move. Think. Act.
A few years ago, I set up the “Make YOUR difference” programme for my running club. It was originally intended as a way of getting people out of a sedentary lifestyle. I wanted to offer the members of my club 4 very simple, BUT very effective pillars for maintaining a balance between the physical and mental aspects of running. Today, my Make A Difference programme is evolving. Drawing on my experience of the last 20 years in management, I've decided to create a Make YOUR Difference programme for you, the manager, supervisor or team leader. Because being mentally sedentary is just as dangerous. And because your leadership deserves better than to be stuck in outdated models.
This programme isn't about fluff. It's not beige PowerPoint training with empty phrases. It's a slap in the face (a benevolent one, but a slap nonetheless). It's an invitation to look in the mirror and ask yourself: am I really making a difference?
Here are the 4 pillars of the programme, revisited for leaders who want to break away from the status quo.
Stop comparing yourself to others: Reclaim your true power
You're not the other. You are you. And that's your greatest strength.
In the world of management, we all too often tend to compare ourselves. To want to be like the “model” manager, the one who speaks well, who ticks all the boxes, who seems to have mastered everything. But let me tell you something: to compare yourself is to turn yourself off.
When you compare yourself, you give up your power. You become a copy. And a copy doesn't inspire anyone.
Mel Robbins says it in his book Let Them Theory You can't control what other people think, say or do. What you can control is your way of being, your authenticity, your unique approach. Do you want to be an inspiring manager? Start by being yourself.
Ask yourself the real questions:
- What are my natural strengths?
- What makes me unique in the way I manage?
- Am I hiding behind a persona to please people?
Stop playing a role. Be real. That's where your leadership begins.
Set yourself realistic goals: Stop aiming for the unattainable
Just like running, start by learning to walk before running a marathon! It's that simple!
One of the biggest pitfalls in management is setting targets too high, too quickly. The result? You fail. You burn out. You doubt. And you start the cycle all over again.
In “Make YOUR difference”, we teach you to work within your limits. Not to hold you back, but to enable you to progress intelligently. You've definitely heard this before. «He's reached his level of incompetence». I teach every member of my running club to push their limits NOT to go beyond them. Running a marathon in 3h00 isn't for everyone, but you can certainly achieve the goal of running a marathon one day. With the make YOUR difference programme, I suggest you avoid the recipe for failure.
A realistic objective is :
- Developing one skill at a time
- Highlighting your character in your management
- Create progressive victories that build your confidence
Did you wrestle? Success isn't a straight line. It's a series of small, well-placed steps. And every step counts. In running, the important thing is volume, not speed.
Self-esteem: Confidence without arrogance
Do you ever have doubts? That's healthy. Do you doubt all the time? It's paralysing.
Self-esteem isn't just about looking in the mirror and saying “I'm good”. It's also about accepting your shortcomings, recognising your mistakes and continuing to move forward.
As a manager, you have to ask yourself questions. But not second-guess yourself with every decision. You have to trust yourself, without becoming arrogant. You have to be humble, but not overwhelmed.
Ask yourself the real questions:
- Do I deserve my place? (Spoiler: yes.)
- Do I trust myself in my decisions?
- Can I recognise when I'm wrong?
Self-esteem is about balance. Too little and you shut down. Too full of yourself and you become blind. The programme helps you find that happy medium, the one that allows you to be a solid, human and inspiring leader.
Intelligent, constant progress: Avoid injury!
Stress is not your enemy. It's your training ground.
Whatever the sport, we know: you build your strength, your endurance, your mental strength. And you do it gradually. Without intelligent, steady progress, injuries are certainly your worst enemy.
In management, it's the same thing. Especially if you're a new manager. You're catapulted into a role, given a team and told “go on, manage”. But without preparation, without progression, you risk getting hurt. Mentally, emotionally, professionally.
As a manager, you're going to feel stress; it's like mechanical stress in running. It can be beneficial if you tame it. It can strengthen your posture, your leadership and your resilience. Blaise Dubois, renowned physiotherapist and founder of The Running Clinic explains that mechanical stress is not an enemy to be avoided, but a stimulus essential to the body's health.
- «Mechanical stress is necessary for the body to adapt. It stimulates bone density, tendon strength and muscle resilience. It's not the stress that's dangerous, it's the lack of progressiveness.»
That's why it's a good idea to learn how to manage your stress as a manager. Adapting to stress will enable you to make better decisions and make stress work in your favour. Stress is not harmful unless you use it in the wrong way.
The “Make YOUR difference” programme helps you to :
- Take your first steps in management without burning yourself out
- Building your leadership on solid foundations
- Go at your own pace, but never stagnate
Consistency is the key. You don't have to go fast. You just have to keep moving.
Bonus: Music as fuel
Want to boost your energy? Put on your own tune.
Music isn't just noise. It's a powerful tool. It releases dopamine, it motivates you, it gets you moving. In the programme, we're inviting you to choose your favourite song, the one that really gets you going, the one that makes you want to go for it.
Why? Because your state of mind influences your management. Because your state of mind influences your management. And music can transform your energy, your focus, your impact.
So this week, choose your song. And make YOUR difference.
Want to make YOUR difference? Move. Think. Act.
The “Make YOUR difference” programme is not a miracle method. It's a trigger. A catalyst. An invitation to get out of the sedentary mindset and become the manager you really are.
Want to inspire your team? Start by inspiring yourself.
You want to change things? Start by changing yourself.
Want to make a difference? Make it now.
