Alliedify

What to Do When Everyone Looks to You

10 Key Lessons from The Making of a Manager

1. Management Is a Skill—Not a Trait

You’re not born a great manager. It’s something you learn, just like coding or writing. Julie Zhuo emphasizes that leadership is about daily practice, not personality.

2. Your Role Is to Multiply Impact

Being a manager means creating the conditions for others to thrive. Your job isn’t to do more work—it’s to make everyone around you more effective and empowered.

3. Clarity Drives Performance

A lack of clarity kills progress. Great managers clearly define expectations, goals, and team responsibilities. Ambiguity leads to wasted time, frustration, and poor decisions.

4. Feedback Is a Growth Lever

Constructive feedback isn’t optional—it’s essential. Regular, honest conversations help team members improve, stay aligned, and feel valued. Praise in public, coach in private.

5. Trust Is Built Through Consistency

People trust managers who show up consistently—who communicate transparently, follow through on promises, and handle conflict with care. Trust is earned over time, not given by title.

6. One-on-Ones Are Your Most Valuable Meeting

Forget status updates—use one-on-ones to coach, listen, and build relationships. These meetings are where culture is reinforced, misalignment is corrected, and motivation is sustained.

7. Great Teams Don’t Happen by Accident

A high-performing team requires intentional design—clear roles, psychological safety, diversity of thought, and shared purpose. It’s the manager’s job to curate, coach, and calibrate.

8. Your Behavior Sets the Tone

People watch what you do more than what you say. As a manager, your reactions, habits, and energy shape the team’s culture. Lead by example, especially during hard moments.

9. Growth Isn’t Always a Straight Line

Career paths vary. Some teammates want to climb fast; others value stability. Understand individual motivations and offer personalized opportunities for learning, not just promotions.

10. Embrace the Awkward

You will make mistakes. You’ll have hard conversations. You’ll feel like you don’t have all the answers. That’s normal. The best managers lean into discomfort and grow through it—not around it.