Category: Surviving

We’ve both been new managers, and we’ve both hired and promoted first-timers into management roles. Here are some phrases to have on repeat.

Decisions can be painful. But, even more painful? Waffling forever.

The pro of doing it well is that everything gets easier all the way down: for your boss, for you, for the reports you’re managing. It puts you on more equal footing with your manager — they’re still your boss and in a position of authority, but you’ve developed enough trust and capital to influence their perspective and decision-making.

We wanted to share this idea with you because it’s the kind of thing that once you know and name, you might think through problems in a different way. You can map the surges you and your team are experiencing, look for patterns, make smarter decisions.

For whatever reason, the thing that was fueling you before isn’t fueling you now. Which is completely normal, but can also be alarming because we don’t always predict it.

We didn’t hop on the New Year, New You train last year and I certainly am not hopping on it now.

Every time we work on a new issue, there are four messages drumming in my skull: You will get better at this. Leave that toxic shit hole. Find someplace good. Do what you mean to be doing. And all those have to work together.