020: Boss Up: How to Be the Assertive Manager Everyone Admires The topic today is assertive management, and how to develop it. Today we get to break down: The importance and benefits of assertive leadership in everyday life and managerial roles. The challenges faced when voicing opinions assertively. Insights and strategies to become an admired assertive manager. Understanding the true essence of assertiveness and debunking its myths; and Steps to foster assertiveness in your management role. Ex...
Sep 27, 2023•12 min
019: The One Rule That Will Make Even the Toughest Employee Love Your Feedback! Ever found yourself stumbling when it comes to giving critical... ahem, constructive feedback? Well, you're not alone! Today, I'm here to share a little secret that has helped transform my managerial journey, and I bet it'll do the same for you. In this episode, we're going to unravel the golden rule of feedback - a rule that's not just smart, but S.M.A.R.T! Here's a sneak peek of what's in store: Discover the art of...
Sep 06, 2023•13 min
018: First Day Jitters? How to WOW Your New Team in Seconds With an Unforgettable First Impression Ever walked into a room and felt like all eyes were on you? That's your first day managing a new team. But what if I told you there's a way to turn those nerve-wracking seconds into a standing ovation moment? And here's the kicker: it's not about the big gestures, but the subtle nuances. In this episode, I'll share with you the exact steps to not just make a decent first impression, but to leave a ...
Aug 31, 2023•11 min
017: 3 Things I WISH I KNEW As A Brand New Manager Have you ever had one of those "I wish I knew that earlier'' moments in your management role at work? I haven’t had one… I’ve probably had a thousand of them. Why? Because leadership can be a bit like diving into the deep end without floaties. Which is exactly why today’s the day I’d like to give you a cheat sheet, a few golden nuggets of wisdom, that will help you swim rather than sink. Specifically, I'm going to spill the beans on three game-c...
Aug 27, 2023•12 min
016: Stop Doubting Yourself! 5 Secrets to Skyrocket Your Confidence as a New Manager Getting an early hold of self-confidence is essential for the first-time manager. So today, I'll set out the actionable steps to identify, accept, and turn your fears into growth opportunities. Perfect for new and emerging leaders and managers seeking guidance on building confidence and navigating the challenges of management. *** MAKING A MANAGER*** To the ambitious up-and-coming manager, the big question is th...
Aug 17, 2023•14 min
015: New Managers Beware: 7 Deadly Sins You're Probably Committing! Today, I'll be unpacking the 7 Deadly Sins that new managers often fall into. Here's a sneak peek: Being a Buddy, Not a Boss - It's about striking the right balance. Overpromising and Underdelivering - Your word is your bond. Ignoring Feedback - It's a two-way street. One-Size-Fits-All Approach - Embrace individuality. Neglecting Professional Development - Keep growing. Ignoring Team Building - It's more than trust falls. No Per...
Aug 08, 2023•21 min
014: 5 Ugly Mistakes Every First Time Manager Makes - Are You Guilty? Today, I'll be breaking down the 5 ugly mistakes that first-time managers often make. Here's what you can expect: Micromanaging - It's more harmful than you think. Lack of Communication - The glue that holds teams together. Avoiding Difficult Conversations - Necessary, though tough. Not Providing Feedback - Essential for growth and improvement. Failing to Lead by Example - Your actions speak volumes. I'll dive deep into each m...
Aug 08, 2023•14 min
013: How to Mentor an Employee The best managers are the best mentors. But how do we mentor properly? Well, here's 4 very simple steps that you should follow. Let's discuss. *** MAKING A MANAGER*** To the ambitious up-and-coming manager, the big question is this: What does it take to be a great manager? Well, great managers know how to motivate and build a great team. Great managers know how to win trust and respect, make an impact and achieve their goals. And great managers get promoted, again ...
May 13, 2022•8 min
012: The Perfect Formula For Selling A New Idea To Your Boss So the good news is – you’ve got a great idea – it’s going make your life as manager easier, it will make your staff happier, and it will save your company money. Bad news – you’re not quite sure how to get your own higher-ups on board. Sound familiar? Let's discuss. *** MAKING A MANAGER*** To the ambitious up-and-coming manager, the big question is this: What does it take to be a great manager? Well, great managers know how to motivat...
May 05, 2022•12 min
011: How To Have Difficult Conversations With Employees (Introducing: The Difficult Conversations Model) If you’ve ever had a difficult conversation with an employee then this episode is for you. What I’m about to share with you in this episode of Making a Manager is quite possibly the simplest formula you’ve ever seen for tackling just about any difficult conversation you need to have with an employee - or even your spouse or child for that matter. And all you need to remember is just 3 simple ...
Jan 29, 2022•10 min
Episode 10: The Art Of Saying No Once You've Already Said Yes. When I talk to managers who haven't quite mastered the art of saying no once they've already said yes, here's what they tell me: Saying no always sucks - but especially sucks when you've already said yes and now you have to renege on that yes; And it sucks because backing out inevitably make you worry that you'll burn bridges, or people will think you're unreliable and not a great team player; and For those who might be a little more...
Jan 16, 2022•10 min
Episode 9: This is the most important management lesson I was ever taught…and it wasn’t from business school. Here’s the deal: Your own people have likely made plenty of mistakes. In fact, they are probably making mistakes right now. And I guarantee that they’ll continue to make mistakes into the future. Just like you. So - where you can - try doing this. *** MAKING A MANAGER*** To the ambitious new manager, the big question is this: What does it take to be a great manager? Well, great managers ...
Jan 03, 2022•8 min
Episode 8 Today’s episode is about workplace creativity. Or more specifically, the steps you need to take to grow creativity in your employees. Most of us already know of the benefits of having a creative workplace – or creative people in that workplace. Let me name a few: -Increased engagement. -Increased interaction. -staff morale. -passion. -motivation. -problem solving. And -Increased productivity. But what you might not know is that there’s a damaging myth out there about creativity at work...
Dec 21, 2021•11 min
Episode 7 Today’s episode is all about navigating employee refusals to return to the office. Now, to clarify, I’m not just talking about any old refusal to return to the office after a period of absence, I’m talking specifically about instances in which your employees are reluctant to come back in the context of COVID-19. Indeed, right now, many leaders who had hoped to bring workers back en masse are facing a backlash. Here's 3 strategies to help you navigate return-to-work obstacles... *** MAK...
Dec 21, 2021•7 min
Episode 6 Today I'm giving you the proof in the pudding of why positive work cultures are more productive. But not only that, after I tell you the why, I’m going to give you the how: specifically, the 4 critical steps that research points us to in order to cultivate a positive workplace culture. *** MAKING A MANAGER*** To the ambitious new manager, the big question is this: What does it take to be a great manager? Well, great managers know how to motivate and build a great team. Great managers k...
Dec 21, 2021•13 min
Episode 5 The show title pretty much says it all – 10 ways to manage angry employees. This is a quick and dirty look at some very easy to implement, evidence-based tactics to not only make you a better leader – but to also make your team a happier and more efficient one. *** MAKING A MANAGER*** To the ambitious new manager, the big question is this: What does it take to be a great manager? Well, great managers know how to motivate and build a great team. Great managers know how to win trust and ...
Dec 21, 2021•10 min
Episode 4 We all know that happier employees are more productive and engaged than their unhappy counterparts. But what about financial wellbeing? Hell, what is financial wellbeing? And how to we look after it? Well that’s exactly what we are going to dive into today. We’re going to get into the weeds of what it is, how it affects your bottom line, and a few simple yet practical things that you as boss can do – right now – to boost financial wellbeing in your workforce. *** MAKING A MANAGER*** To...
Dec 21, 2021•10 min
Episode 3 This episode is all about getting your employee reward structure right - a key requirement for the success of your team and for your business. Now managers are bombarded with advice about pay – but the unfortunate thing is that most of that advice is wrong. This episode rights that wrong. Specifically, I lay out the nine factors that you need to consider when setting up your employee rewards packages. Nine factors to help you find that sweet spot to ensure that you aren’t under paying ...
Dec 21, 2021•12 min
Episode 2 Managers need to stop buying into this expensive myth about employee motivation. So follow me in this episode as we go on a journey into the weeds of team motivation. While we do so, we'll have a look at some of the factors that account for why this myth about employee motivation is so pervasive, we’re going to have a look at the evidence that disproves the myth’s underlying assumptions, and we are going to have a look at how leaders like you and I can think more accurately and usefull...
Dec 21, 2021•24 min
Episode 1 What is trust when it comes to employees and employers, what makes it up, how do you go about building it and what do you need to do to make sure it doesn’t just evaporate in front of your very eyes once you’ve built it up? Well friend, that’s what we are digging into on today’s episode. Inside we'll run through my favourite super simple model – devised by trust expert, Vanessa Hall - that gets you to the core of employee trust and how it works in the interactions we have at work. So, ...
Dec 20, 2021•12 min
