There’s more things than just this list. However, I jotted these things down a couple of years ago to write about it – so here it is.
- You have to manage a lot of different egos including taming your own.
- As an individual contributor, you only have pieces of the puzzle. You know how you work and the type of tasks you need to do on a day to day basis. You may know what your coworker or other folks on your team do. However, there’s more variables in managing people, managing systems, and the dynamic of other departments. You’re not just managing your team, you have to be concerned with the bigger picture of the business. This includes other teams’ concerns, goals, interactions with your team and how that might effect the business in the near and long term.
- Working with vendors and sales has it’s own challenges. Including managing relationships, contacts, and contracts.
- Not everyone is going to like you. Some people play dirty. Everyone’s perception or impression of you will vary. In some situations, it’s like playing chess. You may try to change their perception in others or you use it because you anticipate their next move.
- People believe what they want to believe. There’s always more than one side to every story. Also related/includes people’s memory, timeline of events, and the stories they will tell to benefit themselves. Also in these cases, you’ll try to change it and in other cases you recognize that this is their story, so you let them tell it and walk away. A LOT of times, more times than not, it’s not worth spending any time on it. The past is the past.
- Everyone is ultimately responsible for their careers. Know what you can change and what you can’t. You didn’t get to where you are at just by being lucky. You applied, you studied, or you’ve been doing the job for sometime. Don’t like it, then make a move. Want to stay successful or move up the chain. Study. Be knowledgeable and competitive. Stay ready. Stay hungry.
- You have to know when and how to walk away. Respond, don’t react. There’s a lot said in the last sentence. Think about it, just like how you may need to pause and take a minute to think before you give someone an answer. You don’t need to have all the answers in the moment. If you feel really emotional about something don’t react.
- Everything isn’t what it seems. Trust your gut. If something feels off it probably is. It’s easy to be tempted into accelerating timelines, but make sure you’re informed. You may have spent time planning all the dependencies and subsequent tasks so if you’re moving one piece make sure you have all your bases covered.
- It all comes down to the people. Everyone is different. You have to adapt to everyone’s communication and working style. However, remember if you give people an inch they take a mile. People will do what is best for them. I’m not saying that they shouldn’t but you should set clear expectations. We’ve all heard “people, process, and technology”. The processes and technology will constantly evolve. So don’t be a jerk.
- You have to be able to have difficult conversations. Sometimes you have to tell people the harsh truth. Maybe they’ve become complacent. Tell those people sooner rather than later. They may have a new found respect or they’ll go react and go sideways. See above about respond, don’t react. If you don’t have them, you or the other party doesn’t evolve or grow. It’s part of the process.