Thread by @NicoleDaines

Thinking about that transition from having a daily "to-do" list to having higher level work that you simply make progress on each day.

A leadership story.🧵

When I first moved into a higher level role, I had no idea what to do with myself all day.

I'd send emails to my team with think pieces but didn't yet know how to actually lead.

But there were shining moments. Those times when I helped my direct reports through tough work situations.

Like when they needed help communicating with their stakeholders.

Or needed that extra help in meetings to get their initiatives across the finish line.

I liked those shining moments, but my path was leading me to continuing to develop myself in product management first. I had a lot to learn.

Free of a to-do list and direct reports, I started my transition to deep work.

I focused on: how can I make products that people love and that deliver results for the company?

I started by listening to users and listening to the execs and a desire to tie things together.

I realized their objectives were the same.

We wanted to deliver value to customers and customers wanted that value.

I had some wins, but honestly, in the early years, I faltered. A few steps forward, a few steps back.

Not because the ideas weren't good necessarily, but it was that I needed to figure out how to communicate with influence and confidence and bring people along.

Reps helped. Trying new things helped. Failure helped.

And I learned.

In recent years, I've finally come into my own. I carved out a strategic product portfolio, sold it to the higher ups, and built a team from scratch.

Our work meaningfully moves the needle for the org. We move fast. We're humble. We learn.

I'm proud of us.

Now, my job is to influence, communicate, and lead my team to deliver results. I don't have a traditional to-do list and I don't miss it.

Instead, I have overarching objectives, which I accomplish by leading and inspiring people to move the work forward.

And soon, I'll be managing people directly again, and I can't wait. I miss developing people.