The Making of a Manager

Have you ever wondered how a rookie can rise from being a junior designer to a top manager at Facebook?

Consider an introverted fresh graduate starting her career at Facebook. Fast forward a decade later, she is now managing an entire team at one of the world’s leading companies. She is directing groundbreaking projects. But how did this transformation occur? Let’s delve into it.

”The Making of a Manager,” crafted by Julie Zhuo, narrates this inspiring tale. Zhuo began as a junior designer at Facebook. Eventually, she climbed the corporate staircase to become the Vice President of Design. This journey, however, was lined with challenges and victories that helped shape her perspective on what makes a successful manager.

Lesson 1: Importance of Trust

When Zhuo first took on her managerial role, she encountered a trust issue with her team. The seasoned members under her doubted her abilities. This led to unproductive communication and withholding of feedback. Zhuo bridged this trust deficit by being transparent and consistent, and by admitting her shortcomings. The results were astonishing! Her team began to loosen up and collaborate more effectively. This ultimately led to an exemplary team performance.

Trust acts as an invisible adhesive that binds everything into a working whole. Contemplate on your trust relationship with your team. Is there scope for enhancement?

Lesson 2: Clear Communication

During a phase, Zhuo’s project was in jeopardy. This was mainly because her expectations were unclear to her team. Upon reflection, it was apparent that the team’s misunderstanding resulted from Zhuo’s ambiguous communication. She rectified this by putting in extra efforts to provide clear instructions and expectations. This led to streamlined procedures and the project’s colossal success.

As we recap Zhuo’s second principle, pause to evaluate your communication approach. Are you conveying the clarity your team requires?

Lesson 3: Leading by Example

In her journey, Zhuo initially couldn’t comprehend why her team was reluctant to go beyond their comfort zones. It soon dawned on her that she wasn’t leading by example. When she started taking on challenging tasks, her team followed. This led them to develop innovative solutions and push boundaries.

Our actions as leaders tend to leave a more significant impact than our words. Strive to project the path you want your team to emulate. Are you forging that trajectory? Try doing it, and see your team follow your leadership with increased enthusiasm.

Conclusion

So, we have dissected the three most transformative principles from Zhuo’s managerial journey: cultivating trust, perfecting clear communication, and embodying a commendable example. Zhuo’s life-story bears evidence that the route to leadership is achievable with determination, perseverance, and the right outlook.

It’s now your turn to incorporate these lessons from Zhuo’s journey into your management style. Bolster trust, refine communication and demonstrate the norms you want your team to espouse. For a complete range of insights, do delve into “The Making of a Manager” by Julie Zhuo.