Calling all seasoned professionals and managers!

16 Comments

1. AnonymousDecember 16,2021 at 3:07PM UTC

   Be honest with your peers, your supervisor, and share as much info as you can with your team. And don't take credit for other people's work - give your team credit for any work they do - privately, publicly, and often.

2. Kiyomi Appleton GainesDecember 16,2021 at 3:39PM UTC

   Don't take criticism from anyone you wouldn't seek advice from.

3. SamanthaDecember 16,2021 at 4:55PM UTC

   You don't have to have all the answers. You can learn things from your direct reports. Don't be afraid to delegate. Don't ask someone to do something you wouldn't do yourself.

4. AnonymousDecember 16,2021 at 8:20PM UTC

   Don't be afraid to make mistakes as early in my career I was so worried about feeling foolish or looked down upon as a new manager that I didn't voice my opinion.

   If I could go back and shake my younger self, I would. Due to my self editing, I was passed over for promotions and its only after years in the field, that I finally realized that it's not about making mistakes but learning from them.

   All your ideas are not going to be winners but something you suggest could start a brainstorming session that takes root. You're demonstrating that you're willing to put yourself out there and take risks. We often judge ourselves too harshly when others want us to succeed. Have confidence in yourself and that goes a long way!

5. Amy Elrod-LahtiDecember 17,2021 at 1:59AM UTC

   Find a mentor! I was really excited in my first management job, but felt like in order to have authority and seem like I deserved to be there, I needed to have all the answers and not rely on anyone for help. Big mistake! I fumbled my way through some situations that didn't have to be so difficult. I finally had someone who reached out and said "I feel like you're making your job harder than it needs to be" - she was 100% correct. She became my mentor, and then when I got into tough situations I could talk them through with her before acting, and she could help me see both sides of a situation and all the different ways the scenario could play out. It was tremendously helpful. None of us have all the answers, and all of us can benefit from having someone in our lives who can be objective, but also wants to see us succeed.

6. AnonymousDecember 17,2021 at 1:50PM UTC

   Stop waiting for it to get better - it won’t. It is okay to move around. Long service isn’t appreciated or rewarded.

7. KimDecember 17,2021 at 1:59PM UTC

   Don't stay at your job over 10 years! Ecxplore! Try new things!

8. Michelle HoffmanDecember 17,2021 at 2:23PM UTC

   your first job should last no more than 5 years max. Get your feet wet, learn new things, figure out exactly what you want todo, but get out. Develop relationships and find mentors. Learn how to "toot" your own horn - long long gone are the days hard work will get you the promotion. It takes hard work, but you need a champion and you need to be your own champion.

9. Diane NeustadtDecember 17,2021 at 2:27PM UTC

   Be open to what the universe presents you and trust your instincts. It took me until much later in life to realize if I made a choice that wasn't working I didn't have to stick with it - I could always change my mind and go in a different direction. What a concept!

10. Robyn WickDecember 17,2021 at 2:30PM UTC

    Listen first. Get to know your team and build that trust. Admit your mistakes and celebrate all of their achievements. It will model that for your team. It's ok to not know all of the answers. Nobody does.

11. April MastrolucaDecember 17,2021 at 2:50PM UTC

    Trust your gut. If you have a bad feeling about a person or a situation, don’t ignore it. If it doesn’t feel right, it isn’t.

    Nip it in the bud. When you see bad or undesirable behavior from an employee you manage, speak up. Learn to give constructive criticism. It’s much harder to correct an issue if someone has been doing for a while it without acknowledgment.

12. Heather HastieDecember 17,2021 at 3:22PM UTC

    Definitely trust your instincts. Deal with bad behaviour immediately, focusing on the behaviour. Set expectations and then trust your team to achieve deadlines and outcomes in a way that works for them. Don't micromanage. Learn how to solicit different points of view in a meeting even if the ideas may sound off base at first. No one person has the best solution (not even you). And... it can be lonely when you're leading. Seek out others who are in similar positions for advice and camaraderie.

13. AnonymousDecember 17,2021 at 4:09PM UTC

    They’ll betray you faster than you could ever imagine even if you hired them, promoted them, listened, given time effort and care. Take care of yourself.

14. KathyDecember 18,2021 at 12:10AM UTC

    Remember we are all 'incomplete leaders', focus on your strengths and continue to improve them. Practice active listening. Ask what good support from you looks like. Make sure your actions match your words - your team needs to know they can trust you as much as you need to know you trust them. And don't stop learning.... here is something one of my first managers gave to me (likely attributed to a notable name, but I could not tell you who.) 'The only person over whom you have direct and immediate control is yourself. The most important assets to develop, preserve and enhance therefore are your own. No one can do it for you. You must cultivate the habits of leadership effectiveness for yourself & doing so will be the single best investment you ever make. '

15. Candy RenDecember 20,2021 at 8:28AM UTC

    Spend more time with your direct reports to build bond and efficient communication.

    Be patient to listen to others and rephrase what's been told and then feed back.

16. Krista PasfieldJanuary 8,2022 at 11:25PM UTC

    Don't be afraid to admit you don't know something, but be sure you're part of the solution (and encourage your direct reports to weigh in as well): "Hmm, great question/interesting point, etc. What do you think we should do?" "I'm not sure, but I'm going to do <x> and will circle back by <y>"...and meet that self-imposed deadline.