Managing people is tricky. One day you’re a coach, the next you’re a referee, and sometimes you’re just the person who orders pizza to keep the peace. Luckily, leadership isn’t about being flawless—it’s about building the right habits. The exercises below will help you do just that.
“The Perfect Employee” Exercise
What it improves: Coaching ability, productivity, and empathy.
What to do: Imagine you’ve suddenly got access to futuristic AI tech that lets you “design” the perfect employee. What would you program in to them? Make a list of the top 10 competencies this employee should have (e.g., adaptability, efficiency, creativity).
Now comes the twist: this AI employee requires regular “upgrades,” just like, well, current AI tech. For each competency, list two practical methods you would use to strengthen or refresh it in a real human employee.
Example:
My perfect employee… manages time efficiently.
To upgrade this skill:
- Use to-do lists and organize tasks by priority, setting deadlines a little earlier than necessary to leave wiggle room for troubleshooting.
- Encourage scheduling heavy tasks during peak productivity times (e.g., mornings for early birds), leaving routine tasks for low-energy periods.
This exercise reminds us that even the ideal employee is a work in progress—everyone needs development and support.
“The Pros and Cons” Exercise
What it improves: Risk-taking, decision-making, and problem-solving.
What to do: Big decision on your plate? Instead of spinning in circles, grab a piece of paper and create a pros/cons chart. Divide the page into two columns, then assign each item a score from 1 (minor impact) to 10 (major impact).
Example decision: Should we invest in a new marketing campaign?
Pros:
- Last campaign boosted visibility (10)
- Could increase sales (9)
- Builds brand awareness (8)
Total = 27
Cons:
- High time/resource demand (9)
- Budget trade-off: less money for other initiatives (10)
Total = 19
Once scored, tally your columns and use the results as a guide.
“Perfectionism Myth” Exercise
What it improves: Empathy, productivity, and employee relations.
What to do: Perfectionism at work often hides behind rigid beliefs about how employees should behave. These myths fuel micromanagement, unrealistic standards, and low empathy. Review the list below, then add five more perfectionism myths you may have unconsciously adopted.
Examples:
- Myth 1: Professionals should never make mistakes.
- Myth 2: Tasks I delegate must be done my way.
- Myth 3: If I don’t come down hard on failures, employees won’t improve.
By identifying and challenging these myths, managers can shift from punitive thinking to coaching with empathy.
Exercises like these are a great start—but building better managers takes more than a couple of worksheets. That’s where our SAGE-M 360 comes in. It gives you a crystal-clear view of how you are actually leading (as seen by your team, peers, and boss), so you can spot blind spots and hidden strengths.
And once you’ve got the insights, our leadership coaching program helps you sharpen the exact skills you need. Book a free 20-minute consultation to learn more.