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๐ผ๐ป ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด
a couple friends recently asked me for my advice for first time managers.
sharing a few of my thoughts in case they're helpful to others:
a couple friends recently asked me for my advice for first time managers.
sharing a few of my thoughts in case they're helpful to others:
{background: I built and led a marketing team of ~20.
I'm not perfect and still have lots to learn, of course! but I've learned a couple lessons along the way.}
I'm not perfect and still have lots to learn, of course! but I've learned a couple lessons along the way.}
๐ต๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐.
worrying that someone will outshine you or take your job is human, but fatal.
hire people who amaze you, and get out of their way.
I love this: https://firstround.com/review/give-away-your-legos-and-other-commandments-for-scaling-startups/
worrying that someone will outshine you or take your job is human, but fatal.
hire people who amaze you, and get out of their way.
I love this: https://firstround.com/review/give-away-your-legos-and-other-commandments-for-scaling-startups/
๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป'๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ.
the first time I led a big meeting I was startled to see everyone blinking at me, waiting for me to talk. fake it till you make it. you're there for a reason, you'll figure it out.
the first time I led a big meeting I was startled to see everyone blinking at me, waiting for me to talk. fake it till you make it. you're there for a reason, you'll figure it out.
๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐น๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐.
insecure? need to control everything? battling anxiety, anger, addiction? this stuff affects your team.
work on yourself & watch your team flourish.
insecure? need to control everything? battling anxiety, anger, addiction? this stuff affects your team.
work on yourself & watch your team flourish.
๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ.
it's not your job to dictate a plan. it's your job to lead everyone toward a common goal, and unlock their success. let people surprise you with ideas. try new things.
keep focused on the goal, but let people contribute.
it's not your job to dictate a plan. it's your job to lead everyone toward a common goal, and unlock their success. let people surprise you with ideas. try new things.
keep focused on the goal, but let people contribute.
๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ฅ ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ.
*no one* likes it.
if you feel you need to do this, 1 of 4 things is prob going on:
1: you hired poorly.
2: the goals aren't clear.
3: you have control issues.
4: your expectations are unreasonable.
good chance it's not #1. look within.
*no one* likes it.
if you feel you need to do this, 1 of 4 things is prob going on:
1: you hired poorly.
2: the goals aren't clear.
3: you have control issues.
4: your expectations are unreasonable.
good chance it's not #1. look within.
๐ด๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐, ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐.
without exception, give credit generously when your team succeeds, and take responsibility for everything that goes wrong.
(it goes without saying that you should never, ever blame your team for your mistakes.)
without exception, give credit generously when your team succeeds, and take responsibility for everything that goes wrong.
(it goes without saying that you should never, ever blame your team for your mistakes.)
๐ต๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ, ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐น๐ฒ๐.
you'll be a major roadblock to your team members' success & happiness if you refuse to see them in any other role than the one for which you hired them.
as much as possible, help them unlock the path ahead, and fill in gaps as you go.
you'll be a major roadblock to your team members' success & happiness if you refuse to see them in any other role than the one for which you hired them.
as much as possible, help them unlock the path ahead, and fill in gaps as you go.
๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ.
skills and experience are important. don't discount these things. but don't be so wedded to them that you miss out on great candidates.
you might be pleasantly surprised. and people never forget those who took a chance on them.
BUT:
skills and experience are important. don't discount these things. but don't be so wedded to them that you miss out on great candidates.
you might be pleasantly surprised. and people never forget those who took a chance on them.
BUT:
๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป'๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐บ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป'๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ.
just b/c you don't know much about a skillset doesn't mean anyone can do it.
it's esp easy to make this mistake w/ less credentialed fields like sales, marketing & HR.
sometimes experience matters.
just b/c you don't know much about a skillset doesn't mean anyone can do it.
it's esp easy to make this mistake w/ less credentialed fields like sales, marketing & HR.
sometimes experience matters.
๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ต๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป.
humanity is req'd to retain people.
if someone is sick, or someone in their life is sick, or they're grieving, or their home is flooded, or whatever โ crises hit us all.
bend on policies if you must, make exceptions, help clear their sched, give them support.
humanity is req'd to retain people.
if someone is sick, or someone in their life is sick, or they're grieving, or their home is flooded, or whatever โ crises hit us all.
bend on policies if you must, make exceptions, help clear their sched, give them support.
๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ.
particularly in larger companies, if you're fortunate enough to find yourself with a seat at the big table, you've got the responsibility to use your powers for good.
even if you're new, speak up. remember your values.
particularly in larger companies, if you're fortunate enough to find yourself with a seat at the big table, you've got the responsibility to use your powers for good.
even if you're new, speak up. remember your values.
๐น๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป, ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น.
ask questions.
in a mgmt role, it's often a little harder to get the truth from direct reports than when you're at the same level.
ask Qs, listen, and act.
esp if someone works up the courage to raise an issue with you, try to help.
ask questions.
in a mgmt role, it's often a little harder to get the truth from direct reports than when you're at the same level.
ask Qs, listen, and act.
esp if someone works up the courage to raise an issue with you, try to help.
๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ.
this is sometimes tough, but worth it.
ask for it outright. formalize it with a regular, anonymous survey. always exit interview people when they leave โ the stakes are lower for them then.
ask, listen, learn.
this is sometimes tough, but worth it.
ask for it outright. formalize it with a regular, anonymous survey. always exit interview people when they leave โ the stakes are lower for them then.
ask, listen, learn.
๐ฟ๐๐๐ต๐น๐ฒ๐๐๐น๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ ๐๐ผ ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ต๐ผ๐ ๐บ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฏ๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ.
when you're slammed with meetings, emails, etc., you don't want your team waiting on you to review and approve 300 things.
train someone you trust to help. (win/win.)
when you're slammed with meetings, emails, etc., you don't want your team waiting on you to review and approve 300 things.
train someone you trust to help. (win/win.)
๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐บ๐๐บ, ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ป๐.
regular 1:1s and all-hands meetings are oxygen to a team. do everything you can to sched these in advance, and avoid missing them.
aside from those, try to let people focus.
regular 1:1s and all-hands meetings are oxygen to a team. do everything you can to sched these in advance, and avoid missing them.
aside from those, try to let people focus.
๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป'๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ-๐๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ.
it's 2021.
set KPIs and let people do their thing.
it's 2021.
set KPIs and let people do their thing.
๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ โ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ต โ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐.
in every sense of the word.
especially when hiring, look within and try to see your blind spots.
in every sense of the word.
especially when hiring, look within and try to see your blind spots.
๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป'๐ ๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐'๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ ๐ฑ๐ผ.
when things get real, get in the trenches. never be above slinging boxes, talking to upset customers, etc.
if asking people to go above & beyond, be right there with them.
when things get real, get in the trenches. never be above slinging boxes, talking to upset customers, etc.
if asking people to go above & beyond, be right there with them.
๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐-๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
it can drive results, but I've never seen it lead anywhere good in the long run.
"but, Steve Jobs!"
sorry, but you're not Steve Jobs.
play long term games & value relationships.
it can drive results, but I've never seen it lead anywhere good in the long run.
"but, Steve Jobs!"
sorry, but you're not Steve Jobs.
play long term games & value relationships.
๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ถ๐๐ป'๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐:
you have a few steps to work through.
1: are your expectations too high? ask them, ask others in similar leadership roles (privately), listen.
2: can you help unblock anything in their way?
you have a few steps to work through.
1: are your expectations too high? ask them, ask others in similar leadership roles (privately), listen.
2: can you help unblock anything in their way?
3: *agree* on a goal together, back off a little, and give them room to achieve it.
only if & when you've truly exhausted all of the above, get them onto a performance plan and/or agree to part ways.
only if & when you've truly exhausted all of the above, get them onto a performance plan and/or agree to part ways.
if it comes to that, act with utmost empathy, and do everything you can to help them preserve their dignity.
๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ธ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐:
reward them!
don't just reward good work with more work.
give people cash, promotions, benefits โ these things matter. fight for them when they're well-deserved, if you have to.
reward them!
don't just reward good work with more work.
give people cash, promotions, benefits โ these things matter. fight for them when they're well-deserved, if you have to.
๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ == ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐.
don't promote people or load them with more work, then pay them the same amount as before.
reward success. show meaningful thanks for those taking on increased responsibility.
don't promote people or load them with more work, then pay them the same amount as before.
reward success. show meaningful thanks for those taking on increased responsibility.
๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ.
your emotional state, your work ethic, your values, your sense of camaraderie, your interest in the people on the team and their work โ these are all contagious, for better or worse.
your emotional state, your work ethic, your values, your sense of camaraderie, your interest in the people on the team and their work โ these are all contagious, for better or worse.
if you're curious, warm, ambitious and helpful, that'll go a long way toward motivating others to be the same.
๐ฎ๐๐ธ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ.
get a mentor. lean on your manager, or a trusted advisor. consider a therapist. (everyone can benefit from one!)
it's a long road, and there's a lot to learn for all of us. don't go it alone.
get a mentor. lean on your manager, or a trusted advisor. consider a therapist. (everyone can benefit from one!)
it's a long road, and there's a lot to learn for all of us. don't go it alone.
๐ฏ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ผ๐ฎ๐น.
if you don't believe in it, it's hard to ask your team to.
ruthlessly care for your own wellbeing so you can protect your motivation.
motivation and cynicism are both contagious.
if you don't believe in it, it's hard to ask your team to.
ruthlessly care for your own wellbeing so you can protect your motivation.
motivation and cynicism are both contagious.
๐ง๐;๐๐ฅ:
the recipe for good management:
- take chances on people
- trust them
- listen to them
- empower them
- reward success
- give away your legos
- don't be an asshole
- take care of yourself
- lead, lead, lead.
the recipe for good management:
- take chances on people
- trust them
- listen to them
- empower them
- reward success
- give away your legos
- don't be an asshole
- take care of yourself
- lead, lead, lead.
what'd I miss? would love to hear your lessons and thoughts!
