THE NEW MANAGER
SURVIVAL GUIDE
o s t e p u p
s t i o n s t
7 que g o u t
t b u rn i n
withou
1. RUTHLESSLY EDIT
Key Question: What meetings or
activities take a disproportionate
amount of time but do little to move
the needle?
Eliminate them.
Shorten them.
Space them out.
You must make the space to lead.
2. OFFER
SELF-GUIDED TOURS
Key Question: How can you take any
effort you'd expend controlling your
team and focus on enabling them to
operate autonomously?
Delegate tasks.
Delegate meetings.
Delegate committees.
Employees want to grow.
Help them.
3. MAKE INFORMAL
PROMOTIONS
Key Question: Who can you
nominate to lead specific functions,
projects, or meetings?
Your job is to ensure outcomes, not
create them yourself.
The team needs guidance +
accountability, which can come from
someone else.
You just need to decide who.
4. EMBRACE HIGH ROI
MANAGEMENT
Key Question: What is the most
efficient meeting cadence needed to
achieve the 80/20?
My non-negotiables:
Set expectations
Lead supportive 1:1s
Offer consistent feedback
80% of our remaining meetings are
virtuous procrastination.
5. ADJUST THE
INCENTIVES
Key Question: Is there a sufficient
reward for trading off my craft in
exchange for focusing on the
outcomes produced by my team?
If not, rework them with you boss.
Your attention will always shift to
your personal scoreboard.
Rig the game to ensure you win.
6. PRE-NEGOTIATE YOUR
NEXT PROMOTION
Key Question: How many direct
reports and/or projects would
require me to shift my attention
exclusively to management?
Use KPIs and metrics that show
what it takes to deliver your day job.
This creates the contrast so you’re
fairly judged in the player-coach role.
7. LEVERAGE YOUR
FRESH EYES
Key Question: How do I need to
rethink who does what? Are there
better ways if we we’re starting over?
Keep (your strengths)
Stop (your weaknesses)
Start (your opportunities)
The coaching side of your role requires
you to see multiple possibilities for
how work can be done.
Leadership isn’t having all the answers.
It’s about asking the right questions.
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Teaching leaders the codified management playbook.
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Building a Modern Mom & Pop Shop.
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