Thread by @culturewitch

Welp that’s my first 6 months in a senior leadership role done. I’m still at the beginning of my journey but here’s a few things I’ve learned so far🧵:

1. Be humble and willing to learn. The role of a manager isn’t to have all the answers, but to know how to listen to advice and evidence from your staff, colleagues, externals, communities etc. Listen more and speak less.

2. Be brave. Don’t be afraid to disagree and speak out at high level meeting if you think something isn’t right. Use your position to do some good - it may be uncomfortable at times but if you don’t do it, who will?

3. Own your mistakes, apologise openly, admit when you were wrong. Some people think this undermines authority, but actually it’s one of the most powerful things you can do. You won’t get every call right and that’s ok.

4. Default to trust. All staff deserve trust unless proven otherwise - problems are usually structural rather than down to an individual.

5. Beware of amplification. In leadership, the effect of anything you do or say is amplified x10 in terms of impact. A small comment taken the wrong way can be much more hurtful when it’s coming from higher up. I’m a natural joker so this is something I’m still working on.

6. Model work-life balance. Take holidays, work reasonable hours, have lunch. Don’t complain to your staff how busy you are, address it in private with your boss. It’s hard for staff to raise their capacity issues with you if they feel you are even more stretched than them.

7. Prioritise admin and HR. Don’t leave staff waiting for holiday to be signed off, or POs to be approved. It’s not glamorous but no one wants a blockage. Be on time, too. Nothing cringier than the self-important exec breezing into a meeting with their latte 15 mins late.

8. Be transparent. If you’re unhappy about something, address it honestly but respectfully, and try to find solutions together. Too many managers avoid difficult conversations with staff and just act passive aggressive instead. It’s toxic, unfair, and fixes nothing.

9. Be yourself, and don’t apologise for it. Managers shouldn’t have to fit a certain stereotype, age, look, gender, background, ability, or race.

10. Most importantly, always bring snacks. Lots of snacks.

The response to this has been incredible. And to think I wrote this while watching Love Island and was too scared to post until the next day.