The Ups and Downs of Being a First-Time Manager

10/17/22 • 45 min

Learning to lead other people is a stressful stretch assignment. Much of that stress stems from the misconceptions many people bring into the job. They think they know what the role will entail, and then they start doing the work and realize they don’t know what they’ve gotten themselves into. Gender bias often makes the transition more painful for women since a lot of people, unfortunately, still don’t see us as cut out for leadership, even if they’d never say so to our face.

Three women who’ve recently moved into management speak candidly about being newly in charge of other people: the surprises, the rewards, and recent challenges. If you’re a new manager yourself, we hope you’ll find comfort in knowing that you’re not alone in any struggles you might be facing— and that you’ll get some ideas for how to deal. And if you’re just curious about becoming a boss, we hope that you’ll come away more prepared for the job and confident that you can do it too.

Resources:

“Becoming the Boss,” by Linda A. Hill
“Research: Becoming a Manager Doesn’t Always Feel Like a Step Up,” by Nishani Bourmault and Michel Anteby
“Research: Becoming a Manager Increases Men’s Job Satisfaction, But Not Women’s,” by Daniela Lup
“Women Rising: The Unseen Barriers,” by Herminia Ibarra et al.
Harvard Business Review Manager’s Handbook: The 17 Skills Leaders Need to Stand Out

Email us: [email protected]

Resources:

“Becoming the Boss,” by Linda A. Hill
“Research: Becoming a Manager Doesn’t Always Feel Like a Step Up,” by Nishani Bourmault and Michel Anteby
“Research: Becoming a Manager Increases Men’s Job Satisfaction, But Not Women’s,” by Daniela Lup
“Women Rising: The Unseen Barriers,” by Herminia Ibarra et al.
Harvard Business Review Manager’s Handbook: The 17 Skills Leaders Need to Stand Out

Email us: [email protected]

Previous Episode

Getting Along (Live in Boston)

To cap off our Getting Along series (see the last four episodes in our feed if you missed them), Amy Gallo offers advice, in front of a live audience, on how to deal with “difficult” colleagues. She talks with Amy Bernstein about the different types of difficult coworkers (from the tormentor to the know-it-all) and then answers questions from several members of the audience about the specific situations they’re facing. If you’re navigating a tough work relationship right now and don’t know how to turn things around, this episode is for you.

Resources:

Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People), by Amy Gallo
“What to Do if You Think Your Boss Is Shutting You Out,” by Liz Kislik
“How to Deal with a Passive-Aggressive Colleague,” by Amy Gallo
“How the Best Bosses Interrupt Bias on Their Teams,” by Joan C. Williams and Sky Mihaylo
“How to Deal with the Know-It-All in Your Office,” by Priscilla Claman

Email us: [email protected]

Next Episode

Have You Started Thinking About Retirement?

Retirement is a major decision that takes planning and reflection. Ideally, you want to make the transition in a way that leaves you feeling happy and engaged, not lonely, lost, or bored. So, let’s talk about the seeds that should be sown before your last day in the workforce.

Two women who very recently retired recount their decision-making process, describe how the transition has been so far, and share lessons from their personal experiences. We then hear from Ann Bundy, who’s an expert on retirement, having written a practical guide on the topic and having recently retired herself. She gives practical advice on how to think about and prepare for this transition no matter where you are in your career.

Guest:

Ann Bundy is the coauthor of Encore: Living Your Life’s Legacy, a recent retiree, and a former executive coach.

Resources: