“The best managers figure out how to get great outcomes by setting the context, rather than trying to control their people.” Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix
Wow, did that resonate with me.
Category Archives: Be a good manager
The Most Important Skill I Taught Myself
There are a lot of skills you learn because you’re thrown into situations which require you to learn them…how to communicate effectively, work with people, manage priorities. And many companies have classes to teach them to you. But there is one skill I am proud to say I taught myself which has helped me like no other. It’s boring. Some would say tedious. But it has served me well.
Eagles vs Ducks
Someone asked me a question about my post about helping everyone…..what if you have a duck who thinks it can be an eagle? What’s the best way to hand that situation without demotivating them?
The Jaws of Death
I know, it sounds overly dramatic. But this was one of the key lessons I learned from a very senior person early in my career. This is what he explained to me: Continue reading
When It’s Not Working
You know when things aren’t working but you can’t figure out why? Here are the signs which give me the “uh-on” moments:
The team avoids spending time together and minimizes contact. Silence despite disagreement. Disengagement in meeting. Closed door conversations that turn into venting sessions about someone. People playing politics.
Managing Someone Difficult
I got a question as to how to handle the following situation: you will now start managing a former peer that you haven’t been impressed with. Managing difficult people is the hardest job there is, bar none. As a manager, you want to be respected, effective, and liked. But sometimes you get a person who is either 1) threatened by you, 2) wanting to sabotage you, or 3) just plain doesn’t like you. What to do?
Being Tone Deaf
Lots of articles criticizing United CEO Munoz used the term “tone-deaf” describing his email to employees about the United/Dr. Dao incident. Here’s what I find most interesting: Continue reading
Lesson Learned Number 1
It’s been interesting reading about the Wells Fargo situation…which made me think about my lesson learned: Be maniacal about doing the right thing. So obvious right? But clearly, very smart, very dedicated people still take a wrong turn. How does it happen? My observations…. Continue reading
The “What” versus the “How”
One of the problem “frames” I often use is defining the what versus the how. The “what” is usually the tricky part: it involves requirements, defining the end point, the outcome. People are much more comfortable in the “how”…because it’s reassuring and easier to just do things. But it can lead to activity, not results.
Walking the Talk
This is a great article from Inc. about how the CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella dealt with a very public fail by his company. An excerpt of the email which was shared in a profile piece was “Keep pushing, and know that I am with you … (The) key is to keep learning and improving.” The article also says ” Nadella says he also urged staffers to take the criticism in the right spirit while exercising “deep empathy for anyone hurt by Tay.” Continue reading