Know Your Team
After four years, we’re launching a new product, business model, and company name. Here’s why.
Category: Leadership
You have a micromanaging boss. What can you do?
There are 5 reasons your boss is micromanaging you. Here’s how to manage up, and around them. I’ve heard the phrase, “I have a micromanaging boss,” more times than I can remember. I heard it again, just last week. This person asked me, “What do I do? Is there anything I can say to a micromanager?…
Managing disagreements: How to handle diverging points-of-view with your boss
Six leadership tips on what to do when you disagree with your boss (or another senior leader at the company) It’s inevitable: You’re going to disagree with your boss. No two people on the planet agree with each other on everything, 100% of the time. “That’s a terrible idea,” you think to yourself, after listening to…
Feeling “off”? How to be a good manager when you just don’t feel like being one
If you’re struggling to stay engaged as a leader lately, here are some leadership tips to pull you out of the slump. Some days, being a good manager is more difficult than others. You can’t focus. The day drags. You feel “off.” The company isn’t doing as well as it used to. Or you received a…
Watercooler Hangout #1 Transcript 💧🗒
A chance to connect with Watercooler members more closely, and learn from each others’ experiences. During this hangout on November 8th, we hosted: Andrew Montelenti, CTO at Parse.ly Claire Lew, CEO of Know Your Company Jonathan McCormick, Director at Rosseau, Ltd. Morgan Legge, Operations at Convert.com Prabodh Kumar, Head of Engineering at Recruiterbox.com Robert Williams,…
The surest sign of a bad boss? You don’t listen.
You’re likely making these 4 leadership mistakes as a leader. Here’s what to do instead to become a better listener. You’re not listening, as leader. You think you might be — but it’s highly likely that you’re not. Think back to your last one-on-one meeting. Be honest: What percent of the time did you accidentally zone out…
To be a good manager: 8 ways to avoid your opinion swaying your team too much
A good manager knows their opinion can influence their team sometimes TOO much. Here’s how to compensate for that. When you’re a manager, something interesting happens: You mention an idea off-hand, and all of sudden, it becomes a priority. You casually ask a question out of curiosity, and all of sudden, everyone scrambles ASAP to get…
From The Heart(beat): Leadership lessons I wished I’d learned earlier
Here are a few of my favorite leadership tips from CEOs, founders and executives featured recently in our Heartbeat interviews. Every two weeks, I ask one question on a leadership lesson to a founder, CEO, or business owner I respect and share it on The Heartbeat ❤️, our bi-weekly newsletter on how to become a…
11 must-read books for new managers
New to the whole “manager” thing? Get your feet wet by checking out these 11 most recommended leadership books. Congratulations on your role as a new manager! You’re likely feeling 80% excited… and 20% terrified. That’s completely normal 🙂 Becoming a first-time manager is intimidating. You’re about to start flexing skills you might never have had…
4 non-cringeworthy team-bonding events that people actually enjoy
Here’s what 1,000 managers in The Watercooler said their employees enjoyed most as a team-building activity. Team bonding — known to some as “forced fun” — can bring feelings of dread and resentment to many employees. And who can blame them? When thinking of team bonding, many people picture awkward trust falls or hours spent with a facilitator asking…