Management Skills: Management skills can be learned, not just innate. It’s important to evaluate personal interests before taking on a managerial role, especially when pressured by peers.
Management skills can be developed over time, contrary to the belief that some people are simply born to lead. Ellen Van Osten emphasizes that being effective in management involves connecting with others and guiding them towards achieving goals. People often find themselves in situations where they are asked to take on management roles, even if they aren't enthusiastic about it. This can lead to frustration, especially if the role doesn't match their passions or can adversely affect their work satisfaction. Therefore, when faced with pressure to step into a managerial position, it’s essential to evaluate personal motivations and explore all possible options rather than simply choosing between 'yes' or 'no'. It’s possible to find a path that aligns personal aspirations with professional responsibilities, ensuring a more fulfilling experience in any role undertaken in management.
Negotiation Strategies: When faced with an unwanted job role, negotiate by exploring workload sharing, limited terms, and clear reasoning for any decisions while considering relationship impacts in your department.
In situations where you are asked to take on unwanted responsibilities, it's helpful to approach it as a negotiation rather than a simple yes or no. Start conversations with peers to discuss the role's purpose and explore ways to share the workload. This could involve adjusting the chair's responsibilities to make the role more appealing or tolerable. Consider a limited term for the position, allowing for a compromise that helps you contribute without committing long-term. If ultimately you decide to decline, be prepared to explain your reasons clearly, focusing on your current projects. Keep in mind that saying no might affect relationships in your department, so weigh the implications carefully. Doing so can lead to a more supportive environment where everyone's contributions align with the department's goals.
Career Opportunities: Embrace unexpected leadership opportunities and reshape roles to fit your strengths. Age shouldn't limit your ambition; actively seek advancement and remain open to surprising outcomes.
Making career choices can be daunting, especially when considering leadership roles. It's important to weigh the risks of a bad leader taking the position versus the potential benefits of accepting the role yourself. Even if it feels daunting, taking a chance can lead to unexpected rewards. Also, keep in mind that there are often ways to reshape a role, making it more palatable, and that saying 'no' can have ramifications on your department's influence. For those in mid-career looking for advancement, especially later in life, staying proactive is key. It's crucial to seek out opportunities while recognizing that age shouldn't be a deterrent in your journey to a leadership position. Continuing to build connections, asking for feedback, and being open to unexpected success can pave the way for achieving your career goals.
Never Too Late: Never feel it's too late to pursue your dreams. Embrace your experience, network actively, and maintain confidence in your unique strengths to open up new opportunities.
It's never too late to pursue your dreams, regardless of age. Embrace your experience as a strength and focus on what you really want to achieve. Networking is essential; reaching out to others in your desired roles can open up new opportunities. Stay confident in your abilities and the unique perspective you bring to the table, as this can set you apart from younger candidates. Remember, many skills are transferable across industries, which can enhance your candidacy. Keep a positive mindset and actively seek out opportunities rather than dwelling on missed chances. Your age can be an advantage, providing maturity and dedication that employers value.
Advancing in Family Business: To advance in a family business, focus on building a professional relationship, demonstrate your value, and consider further education. Open communication about future roles is crucial, and if needed, explore opportunities elsewhere for career growth.
In a challenging work environment where family ties and company dynamics play a big role, it's essential to seek open communication. Establish a professional relationship with your relative while demonstrating your skills and ambitions. Consider further education, like an MBA, not just for validation from others, but for your own growth. Engage in meaningful conversations about future opportunities within the company, showing your value as a business leader. Do not rush into seeking immediate promotions; take time to build trust and visibility. If progress is slow, exploring opportunities at a different company may also be a wise step for advancement. You are qualified, and with the right strategy and persistence, you can overcome these hurdles and claim your place as a manager, regardless of family connections.
Career Growth: Open dialogue with the branch manager about future growth and personal success is crucial. If he sees no progress, exploring new job opportunities could be wise, leveraging his gained experience for a better role.
It's important for the listener to communicate openly with the branch manager about future business direction and his personal career aspirations. He should ask what steps he can take to be more successful and seek feedback. If there is no positive response, he might need to consider leaving the organization for new opportunities, as family relationships can complicate professional growth. Despite the challenges, he has gained valuable experience and skills that he can leverage in future job searches, which can be a great advantage.
Leadership Insights: Ellen Van Osten discussed leadership and helping individuals change in her conversation on Dear HBR, encouraging listeners to engage with the podcast and explore more resources for business and management growth.
Ellen Van Osten shared insights on leadership through her conversation on Dear HBR. She emphasized the importance of helping individuals change, which is a key aspect of effective leadership. The episode is part of a broader effort to provide valuable content from top business experts. Listeners are encouraged to share the podcast and engage with its content on various platforms. The team behind the production includes several contributors who help bring these important discussions to the audience. The episode also invites listeners to check out more resources at hbr.org, highlighting the commitment to ongoing learning in business and management. As new episodes are released weekly, it serves as a valuable source for anyone interested in enhancing their leadership skills or knowledge. Overall, the conversation underscores the value of collaboration and community in professional growth and change.
What It Really Takes to Be a Manager
HBR On Leadership
79 Episodes
Recent Episodes from HBR On Leadership
How to Get People to Listen to You
Why Founders Need to Focus More on Sales and Marketing
Which sales candidate is a startup’s ideal first hire? What marketing channels are worth investing in? How aggressively should you align sales with customer success?
In this episode, you’ll learn how to hire for early sales roles, design compensation, and lay a strong foundation for a growing sales team.
Key episode topics include: leadership, entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, startups, entrepreneurial business strategy, pricing strategy, talent management.
HBR On Leadership curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock the best in those around you. New episodes every week.
· Listen to the original Cold Call episode: What Founders Get Wrong about Sales and Marketing (2023)
· Find more episodes of Cold Call
· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org
]]>What It Really Takes to Be a Manager
In this episode, Ellen Van Oosten answers questions from listeners who are struggling to move into management. She offers advice for what to do when you’ve been tapped for a managerial role, but you don’t want the job. She also discusses how to respond if your supervisor is blocking you from earning a promotion into management, and how you can make the move to manager even if you only have informal management experience.
Van Oosten is a professor at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve. She’s also a coauthor of the book, Helping People Change: Coaching with Compassion for Lifelong Learning and Growth.
Key episode topics include: leadership, careers, career transitions, managing people,
coaching, growth.
HBR On Leadership curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock the best in those around you. New episodes every week.
· Listen to the original Dear HBR episode: Management Material (2020)
· Find more episodes of Dear HBR.
· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org.
]]>Former MA Governor Charlie Baker on Solving Complex Problems
Former Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker and his former chief of staff Steve Kadish faced many challenges during Baker’s time in office—perhaps most notably: the Covid-19 pandemic.
Looking back, they argue that running a government is often much harder than leading a private-sector company. For one thing, Baker says, there’s rightly more public scrutiny of every decision you make as a leader. And, Kadish adds, decision-making is far more dispersed.
In this episode, they share their four-part framework for breaking down complicated problems with many stakeholders to get results. If you’re struggling with bureaucracy and politics in your organization, this episode is for you.
Key episode topics include: leadership, strategy execution, government, stakeholder management, decision making, problem solving, negotiation.
HBR On Leadership curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock the best in those around you. New episodes every week.
· Listen to the original HBR IdeaCast episode: Leadership Lessons from a Republican Governor in a Blue State (2022)
· Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast.
· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org.
]]>How to Manage Breakthrough Innovation
Astro Teller says he uses a vetted approach to decision-making for the innovative projects that he and his teams undertake at X, Alphabet’s R&D engine.
Teller is the Captain of Moonshots at X, which he helped launch at Google in 2010. His mission there is to invent and launch new technologies that address serious problems in the world. But those technologies must also create the foundations for substantial new businesses for Google’s parent company, Alphabet. They’ve worked on a pill that detects cancer, cars that drive themselves, and mega-kites that work as turbines to collect wind energy, to name just a few examples.
In this episode, Teller offers key lessons for managing the process that delivers breakthrough innovations. You’ll learn how he decides to keep investing in a project, and how he knows when it’s time to pull the plug. You’ll also learn how he assembles teams and what qualities he looks for in potential new hires.
Key episode topics include: leadership, innovation, technology and analytics, leadership and managing people, experimentation, creativity, breakthrough, Alphabet, Google.
HBR On Leadership curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock the best in those around you. New episodes every week.
· Listen to the original HBR IdeaCast episode: X’s Astro Teller on Managing Moonshot Innovation (2023)
· Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast.
· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org.
]]>
Chobani’s Founder on Mission-Driven Entrepreneurship
In this episode, Harvard Business Review editor in chief Adi Ignatius and Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya discuss mission-driven entrepreneurship.
You’ll learn how Ulukaya kept Chobani true to its original values, even as it scaled and began competing in new sectors. You’ll also learn why he adapted Chobani’s mission to center his employees.
Key episode topics include: leadership, entrepreneurship, entrepreneurs and founders, entrepreneurial management, food and beverage sector, Chobani, yogurt.
HBR On Leadership curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock the best in those around you. New episodes every week.
· View to the original New World of Work episode: Chobani Founder Hamdi Ulukaya on the Journey from Abandoned Factory to Yogurt Powerhouse (2022)
· Find more episodes of the New World of Work
· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org
]]>Are You Ready to Be a Leader?
The shift from being part of a team to leading one isn’t like flipping a switch. It’s a process, and it can be awkward. It can be especially difficult your identity differs from other leaders in your organization — for example, if you’re a young leader in an organization dominated by older leaders, or a woman in a male-dominated organization.
In this episode, two leadership coaches, Amy Su and Muriel Wilkins of Paravis Partners, explain how to develop a leadership presence that’s both authentic to you and resonates with others. You’ll also learn some deeper questions to ask yourself during your transition into leadership.
Key episode topics include: leadership, gender, authenticity, leadership presence, transitions, influencing others, leadership style, leadership journey.
HBR On Leadership curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock the best in those around you. New episodes every week.
· Listen to the original Women at Work episode: Seeing Ourselves as Leaders (2019)
· Find more episodes of Women at Work.
· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org.
]]>Leadership Lessons from a NASA Tragedy
This was not the first NASA mission to end in disaster, and it inspired Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson to write a business case about what went wrong.
Edmondson studies psychological safety and organizational learning. Her most recent book is Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well.
In this episode, she breaks down the organizational challenges within NASA that contributed to the Columbia tragedy, offering a window into the organization’s leadership. Edmondson also shares lessons for all leaders about the dangers of unyielding hierarchy and of failing to listen to dissenting voices.
Key episode topics include: leadership, managing people, organizational culture, operations and supply chain management, NASA, hierarchy, science.
HBR On Leadership curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock the best in those around you. New episodes every week.
· Listen to the original Cold Call episode: The Space Shuttle Columbia’s Final Mission (2016)
· Find more episodes of Cold Call
· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org
]]>The Key to Abraham Lincoln’s Leadership
The letter was never signed and sent—just one example of how Lincoln’s legendary emotional discipline enabled him to rise above mundane arguments and focus on a larger mission.
In this episode, Harvard Business School professor and historian Nancy Koehn analyzes Lincoln’s leadership both before and during America’s greatest crisis.
You'll learn how emotional self-control can impact your day-to-day leadership as well as your long-term legacy.
Key episode topics include: leadership, crisis management, decision making and problem solving, government, American history, emotional discipline, communication.
HBR On Leadership curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock the best in those around you. New episodes every week.
· Listen to the original HBR IdeaCast episode: Real Leaders: Abraham Lincoln and the Power of Emotional Discipline (2020)
· Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast
· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org
]]>Lessons from Maggie Lena Walker’s Entrepreneurial Leadership
Those experiences, coupled with her strong work ethic, culminated in Walker rising to lead the Independent Order of St. Luke and found several other businesses, all of which created jobs and opportunities for many women and Blacks people where there had been none before.
In this episode, Harvard Business School senior lecturer Tony Mayo traces Walker’s approach to leadership on her journey to becoming the first female bank president in America.
You’ll learn how she led the turnaround of the Order of St. Luke starting in 1899 by cutting costs, increasing membership, and launching new businesses that catered to unmet needs in Richmond's Black community. You’ll also learn how Walker relied on her personal networks and deep local roots to overcome challenges rooted in systemic racism throughout her career.
Key episode topics include: leadership, managing people, entrepreneurship, race, gender, Independent Order of St. Luke.
HBR On Leadership curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock the best in those around you. New episodes every week.
· Listen to the original Cold Call episode: Black Business Leaders Series: A Remarkable Legacy of Firsts, Maggie Lena Walker (2017)
· Find more episodes of Cold Call
· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org
]]>