Women at Work

How to Manage: Getting Out of the Weeds


Listen Later

Before you became a mid-level manager, you were probably doing some individual contributor work: designing, producing, or selling something. Now your workday is likely focused on people and project management, including ensuring that everyone and everything is fulfilling a vision. Filling this more strategic role can feel  uncomfortably abstract, making you want familiar and tangible tasks—to meddle in what used to be your business.

Amy B and her three guests have been there, and they’re here to offer advice on how to let go of your previous tasks and mindset so you don’t fall into micromanaging. Instead, they say, why not set clearer expectations, increase your team’s skills, and create a culture of accountability? They’ll share what they’ve said and done to get those results—and how loosening their grip ended up serving them well and offering relief.

Guest expert:

Lia Garvin runs a consulting business that advises companies on team operations, which was her specialty when she previously worked at Google. She’s the author of The Unstoppable Team and Unstuck.

Resources:

  • How to Stop Micromanaging and Start Empowering,” by Lia Garvin
  • How to Get Involved Without Micromanaging People,” by Linda Hill and Kent Lineback
  • A Guide for New Middle Managers,” by Gloria St. Martin-Lowry
  • HBR’s 10 Must Reads for Mid-Level Managers, by Harvard Business Review
  • Sign up for the Women at Work newsletter.

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Women at WorkBy Harvard Business Review

    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    1,343 ratings


    More shows like Women at Work

    View all
    HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

    HBR IdeaCast

    1,881 Listeners

    The Look & Sound of Leadership by Essential Communications - Tom Henschel

    The Look & Sound of Leadership

    1,139 Listeners

    The McKinsey Podcast by McKinsey & Company

    The McKinsey Podcast

    381 Listeners

    Coaching for Leaders by Dave Stachowiak

    Coaching for Leaders

    1,474 Listeners

    TED Business by TED

    TED Business

    1,134 Listeners

    The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving by FirmsConsulting.com & StrategyTraining.com

    The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving

    111 Listeners

    Cold Call by HBR Presents / Brian Kenny

    Cold Call

    189 Listeners

    Dear HBR: by Harvard Business Review

    Dear HBR:

    748 Listeners

    Worklife with Adam Grant by TED

    Worklife with Adam Grant

    9,239 Listeners

    HBS Managing the Future of Work by Harvard Business School

    HBS Managing the Future of Work

    107 Listeners

    The Anxious Achiever by Morra Aarons-Mele

    The Anxious Achiever

    571 Listeners

    Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques by Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart

    Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

    771 Listeners

    Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

    Coaching Real Leaders

    591 Listeners

    Fixable by TED

    Fixable

    218 Listeners

    HBR On Strategy by Harvard Business Review

    HBR On Strategy

    71 Listeners

    HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

    HBR On Leadership

    131 Listeners

    New Here by Harvard Business Review

    New Here

    76 Listeners