Did we have the same managers? :) This is a great post, thank you Anela!
Those are really top notch pieces of advice! I'm so happy that I've received similar ones years ago too! I've had two great managers (I see them as mentors too), and indeed, their best nuggets of knowledge came from impromptu conversations or "walking to the next meeting" moments.
One manager taught me to be frugal: spending my time, energy and attention to things that matter. Teaching me that before I take care of others I need to take care of myself. That to be valuable to others, I need to listen first, and a lot, as it does open a lot of doors when you listen more than you speak. And that I needed to apologize less.
The other, earlier in my career, already a director at age 28, told me that to manage a product/ stakeholder well, you need to show them all your attention when you're together. Even if you're not the main person in the product and you don't know what people are discussing, seeming uninterested will not make you friends.
She was a great manager, teaching me that assertiveness and confidence are something you need to have even with the most difficult stakeholders, as standing your ground will be important down the line. If you blur the lines on what is or not acceptable, you'll get stepped on more frequently.
I love those, thank you for sharing! I especially appreciate that you shared “taking care of myself first” because it is so relatable - if I have a bad sleep or no energy, it always reflects on my day.
"By mastering brevity, you signal confidence and competence—key traits that help you gain trust and establish authority as you grow in your career."
This resonates with me - especially over the last few years when we're often in the digital space where it's easy to have your messaging skipped over because people are afraid of a big body of explainer text.
Did we have the same managers? :) This is a great post, thank you Anela!
Those are really top notch pieces of advice! I'm so happy that I've received similar ones years ago too! I've had two great managers (I see them as mentors too), and indeed, their best nuggets of knowledge came from impromptu conversations or "walking to the next meeting" moments.
One manager taught me to be frugal: spending my time, energy and attention to things that matter. Teaching me that before I take care of others I need to take care of myself. That to be valuable to others, I need to listen first, and a lot, as it does open a lot of doors when you listen more than you speak. And that I needed to apologize less.
The other, earlier in my career, already a director at age 28, told me that to manage a product/ stakeholder well, you need to show them all your attention when you're together. Even if you're not the main person in the product and you don't know what people are discussing, seeming uninterested will not make you friends.
She was a great manager, teaching me that assertiveness and confidence are something you need to have even with the most difficult stakeholders, as standing your ground will be important down the line. If you blur the lines on what is or not acceptable, you'll get stepped on more frequently.
I love those, thank you for sharing! I especially appreciate that you shared “taking care of myself first” because it is so relatable - if I have a bad sleep or no energy, it always reflects on my day.
"By mastering brevity, you signal confidence and competence—key traits that help you gain trust and establish authority as you grow in your career."
This resonates with me - especially over the last few years when we're often in the digital space where it's easy to have your messaging skipped over because people are afraid of a big body of explainer text.
Agreed! Today, more than ever, we need to master how we communicate with our audience. I will write another post with some practical advice on this 😉