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🏔️ LxI #002: How to Manage Managers
5 Mindset Shifts You'll Need to Succeed
Shaun Rohrich
February 11, 2023
Read Time: >5 mins
Today, I'm going to show you 5 essential mindset shifts you'll need to make when you start managing people-managers.
There's a point in many leaders' careers when you go from being paid to "do the work", to getting paid because "the work gets done". This can sometimes mean managing people-managers.
Most leaders struggle (or fail) to make this switch effectively.
The problem is that there is a lack of resources out there that deal with this particular challenge. And, when responsibility is not met with resources, no one wins.
Being an amazing individual contributor does not mean you'll be a great manager.
I'm going to set you up for success in this issue. Today we'll discover:
5 mindset shifts for "Managers of Managers"
How to free yourself up to focus on long-term impact
Learn and avoid common pitfalls when making the jump
Let's dive in.
Mindset Shift #1: "Relationships > Results"
This is a shift that I recommend at any level of leadership. However, it's incredibly important when leading at higher levels of an organization.
Being a Manager of Managers is all about relationships. The success of your team is determined by how well you can motivate and inspire them.
When you invest time in really understanding your team and who they are as people, you can better understand each person's strengths and weaknesses, and how to support and challenge them in a way that leads to success.
Nail that, and the results will come.
Mindset Shift #2: "Working in the business vs. On the business"
I once coached a Director who would preach this phase in every meeting.
His peers grew tired of hearing it but, he had a point. When you move up to a certain level of leadership, gone are the days of focusing solely on the day-to-day.
You must shift to focus toward the big picture and develop strategies that will drive success over the long term.
Learning to anticipate change, think strategically, and make decisions that will impact the direction of your company takes guts.
Give yourself a confidence boost by keeping up to date on industry trends and investing in a coach.
Mindset Shift #3: "Coach instead of do"
When you're an individual contributor, (or even a new Manager) being "successful" is often linked to how much you can get done. This way of working gets ingrained in us.
Being a manager of managers means getting work done through others instead of doing it yourself. And this means you need to get good at coaching.
Think of this as a gift rather than a burden. You now get to support, guide and develop your team all while freeing yourself up from day-to-day tasks.
You'll leave a larger legacy because you can focus more on where you want to innovate and impact the business as a whole.
Mindset Shift #4: "We succeed together, not against each other"
When you're a manager of managers, it's important to change the way you think about success.
Your job is to make sure your team does great work. And the best way to do that is to work together. That means everyone helps each other instead of trying to compete against each other.
By creating a happy and safe environment, everyone will be motivated to do their best work. Easier said than done but it's worth the effort.
Mindset Shift #5: "Being a Good Example"
As a manager of managers, you set the mood for your team and, by extension, their teams.
What you do, how you act, and what you say will affect how people feel and how well they work.
It's important to be a good example for your team. This means showing them how to do things the right way, being honest and open with them, and creating a place to work where everyone can be creative and come up with new ideas.
Do this and your people managers will want to do the same.
See you next Saturday.
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