Managing isn't easy.
In fact, we're all kind of obsessed with learning how to manage—our time, our finances, our stress, our plants (is that just me?), our careers, our lives...
And in the interest of better managing our teams, we're here to offer suggestions on how to be an exceptional leader.
Real, authentic advice is the best advice. And we've interviewed incredible leaders for years now, each offering their own genuine nuggets of wisdom along the way.
In case you felt inundated with superb content, we dug through and pulled a few gems of knowledge from the professionals—to help each of us manage a little better.
1. Hiring Isn't Easy
Hiring can be hard—especially if you've set the bar too high. We each have our own set of biases—but compromises can be made when choosing the best candidate for the job.
Mostly because the "perfect" candidate probably doesn't exist. Take it from Shirin Saleem, Senior Manager of Technical Programs for Alexa at Amazon,
"One thing I’ve learned going along is that you have to take a balanced view when you bring people in and when you manage them. Different people have different strengths and different weaknesses. And as a manager, you have to work around that and work with them on that."
2. Leadership Isn't Always Loud: On Quiet Leadership
You don't have to be a confident, outspoken person to be a great leader.
Balancing positive reinforcement with speaking up and listening can result in a leadership style that lifts those around you. Beckie Wood, Vice President of Product for Content, Programming, and Insight at Pandora believes in "quiet" leadership—which really means amplifying the voices around you—as well as your own.
"I spent too long being quiet and questioning myself. This is a cliché female trait, but it was absolutely real for me. I still believe in quiet leadership—leadership that’s about listening first, not speaking first—but there’s a need for folks to speak up if, and when, they have a strong point of view. With a bit of guidance and some coaching from others (and a formal public speaking class), I quickly learned which moments demanded me to speak up. I wish I had forced myself to make this change earlier in my career.
To this point, now when I see more junior folks remaining quiet, I like to dig in to understand their communication style. I also believe in creating space for everyone to participate in meetings, either by calling on folks or doing around-the-room style meetings."
To this point, now when I see more junior folks remaining quiet, I like to dig in to understand their communication style. I also believe in creating space for everyone to participate in meetings, either by calling on folks or doing around-the-room style meetings."
3. Listen, Really Listen
Along the lines of quiet leadership, we interviewed a VP who prioritizes leading by listening, first. Because leading means learning. And learning means being able to listen. One leader, in particular, calls this her "secret sauce." From GE's Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Susan Peters:
"Every step of the way, I have tried to do both. When you listen, you show respect for others and you gain insights and context. When you learn, through whatever vehicle, you broaden your horizons."
4. Is There a Secret Formula?
Nope. But also, yes.
Because Merline Saintil, Head of Operations for Product & Technology at Intuit, doesn't really believe that there's a secret formula or equation for being a wonderful manager. Her best advice is a human-first approach.
"[Leaders must] truly care about people...That, to me, is the foundation. Coaching and growing people, doing what you say and saying what you do—all that stuff that we learn about being leaders—will come naturally. But it starts with truly caring about people."
With caring about your employees comes a sense of selflessness, a desire to lift others up to where you are. To pay it forward. And Merline is an advocate for it all.
"I am a big believer in sending the elevator back down. I have been fortunate enough that many people have invested in me, and I stand on the shoulders of many people today. It’s really important for me to give back and pay it forward. My day job is running operations, but I also have a full-time woman tech leader on my team, and so my support of women in technology and what I do is an extension of my work, naturally. It’s one of those things where I’ve been able to carve out where work and life blend together."
5. How Does Friendship Balance With Leadership?
It's tricky, but it's all about balance, boundaries, and empathy.
Keeping your employees happy is usually a priority. And when all of your employees are happy, you can often run into a problem on the other side of that spectrum.
Friendship and friendliness are important in the workplace, but maybe keep your best friendships outside of the office.
6. Thee Important Pillars of Leadership
We're big fans of The Rule of 3 for productivity (a simple, simple hack for managing your workload.) But when we interviewed Pandora's Chief Counsel for Employment, Compensation and Benefits, she had her own "Rule of 3" when it came to managing a team. Her three keys? Communication, transparency, and mentorship. Here are Adelmise Rosemé Warner's three pillars for great leadership:
Communication
"It is critical to maintain constant communication with your team members. This can be accomplished not only through 1:1s, but even ad hoc check-ins. Keeping your team in the loop on what’s going on in the company, and what may be coming down the road is very important to help them plan and manage their work and personal life accordingly."
Transparency
"Transparency is key. I personally don’t like surprises. So, one of my requests from my team is to keep me informed so I am not surprised. For example, if we think a matter is going to end up in litigation, let’s talk about it and not wait until we get the claim. I also make sure that I am as transparent with my team as possible in terms of what roadblocks they may face in doing their work, what information that I may have received from senior leadership that I think my team should know about."
Mentorship
"Development and mentorship are of utmost importance. I am always looking for ways for me to develop in my career and learn new things. I also make a concerted effort to talk to my team about development opportunities. Being a leader inherently means that you have to be a mentor, and take a proactive approach to developing and growing your team members."
