Good manager, bad manager

Raise your hand if you ever had a sh*tty manager. ✋🏻

Do you remember the feeling of dread when they pinged you on Slack or they came over to your desk?

But what makes a good manager? I asked Chat GPT.

Ok... I admit it. I cheated! I already knew the answer 😉 (good job Chat GPT!)

The point I’m trying to make is that Google's Project Oxygen is widely regarded as one of the best studies on what makes a good manager.

As Chat GPT pointed out, the study identified 8 key behaviors of Google's top-performing managers. According to the study, a great manager:

1. Is a good coach

2. Empowers the team and does not micromanage

3. Expresses interest in and concern for team members’ success and personal well-being

4. Is productive and results-oriented

5. Is a good communicator — listens and shares information

6. Helps with career development

7. Has a clear vision and strategy for the team

8. Has key technical skills that help him or her advise the team

There is A LOT to unpack here. I could write a whole post (or a whole book!) about each of these. What I find the most interesting however is how many of the key behaviors in the list are about helping others achieve their goals. Sounds familiar?

I've written before about how captainship is all about helping others achieve their goals. A captain is someone who helps people make progress in their lives and achieve their goals.

If you put these facts together, the conclusion is that captainship is what makes a good manager.

I still remember when this clicked for me. My brain melted down 🤯. I felt like I had discovered the best thing since sliced bread. I also wished someone told me early in my captainship journey.

Since then, every time someone asks me for some advice on how to be a better manager I always lead with this insight.

Wanna become a better manager? Develop your captainship!

-Ale

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