Show Notes
Becoming a manager is one of those career milestones everyone congratulates you on, but very few people actually prepare you for. Whether you’ve just become a manager, you’re about to step into your first leadership role, or you simply want to become better at leading your team, this episode is your practical guide to getting it right. You’ll learn the 7 foundations Heather believes make the biggest difference when you’re learning how to manage people well, plus the mistakes she made herself while figuring it all out. Key learnings: How to make the shift from doer to manager Why being liked isn’t the goal How to earn trust and respect from your team How to delegate without micromanaging How to handle feedback and difficult conversations How to build real accountability in your team
Download Heather’s free 90 Day 1-on-1 agenda to run better, more meaningful conversations with your team: https://custardlearns.com/90-day-agenda-download And btw, Heather drops practical leadership tips to over 30,000 managers across the globe inside the Custard Culture Club, join us here: https://custardlearns.com/custard-culture-club-home Got a situation at work you do not know how to handle? Send it in at [email protected], two lines or two paragraphs, whatever you need. Everything stays anonymous. New episodes every Wednesday at 8AM. Follow us on Instagram: @the.boardroompodcast & @leadershipheather And if you’re a manager or business owner who wants a clearer picture of how your team is really doing and what to do about it, find out more at Custard.
More from The Boardroom by Heather Elkington
Are your 1on1 meetings with your team just status updates? Here's how to run one-on-ones that actually work, with the questions and agenda I use. Airbnb's CEO Brian Chesky went viral for saying one-on-ones are a waste of time. My take: if you're running a multi-billion-pound company, maybe. But if you're a manager in the middle, your one-to-one meetings are how you spot problems before someone hands their notice in, and how you stop micromanaging for the rest of the week. In this episode: Why managers need 1on1s Fortnightly vs 90-day 1on1s Let them talk 75% Questions beyond "everything's great" Never missing feedback on your management Handling promotion conversations The 90-day retention question
Are you doing great work from home but getting overlooked for pay rises and promotions? In this episode, Heather shares how to make working from home help your career rather than hold it back. Proximity bias is real. A UK study of more than 900 managers found they were 11% less likely to promote people who work fully from home, and 68% of employers say being in the office significantly affects promotion chances. What proximity bias is The career-fatal assumption that your work speaks for itself How she went from 85k to 120k in one pay rise The Friday "loud list" How posting on LinkedIn got her noticed by the CEO of Sage How to manage up How to use office days strategically
Heather shares the 5 business rules behind the £1M she’s made since leaving her corporate job, with a team of three. Heather reveals that one of the best emails she’s received is from an angry customer. From there, she breaks down the principles that guide every decision in her business and her leadership. You’ll learn: How to take accountability, even when it's not your fault How to handle criticism without getting defensive How to control your reaction to things you can't control How to stay focused while running two businesses at once
What do you do when you have a difficult manager? Maybe they’re inconsistent, make empty promises, message you at all hours, fill your diary with unnecessary meetings, or make you feel like you’re constantly walking on eggshells. In this episode, Heather breaks down how to manage up and take back some control when you can’t control the person above you. You’ll learn how to: Give difficult feedback upwards Set boundaries around your time and actually stick to them Deal with managers who make everything feel urgent Say no to meetings without looking difficult Stop letting your manager’s moods dictate your working day Know when you’ve tried enough and it might be time to leave
We are back after a two week break, Heather is officially a married woman 💍 and we are finally answering some of the dilemmas you’ve emailed us at [email protected]. From navigating friendships at work and managing someone who could have had your job, to handling a difficult peer when you have no authority over them, Heather breaks down what she would actually do in each situation. We get into: When friendship and leadership blur Dealing with resentment at work Managing someone who competed for the same job Seeking approval from your team Challenging a difficult peer