Even bad managers have nuggets of wisdom!

Even bad managers have nuggets of wisdom! Something I’ve learned in my journey and across dozens of managers I’ve worked for and with is that even in the relationships that are frosty you can find some jewels that further your process. We have good managers and bad managers; some that are willing and able to evolve and truly care about our motivations and others who don’t: they lead through fear, manage everyone the same, etc. That said, I’ve taken morsels from everyone I’ve ever worked with. From these folks, I have learned a lot about what I can look for in reports, how to make these reports actionable and translate them into strategy, how to prioritize my day, things I can do to be more effective and certainly how I do and do not want to be managed and how I do and do not want to lead. Take something of value from every experience and person you interact with; even the relationships that were difficult will teach you endurance, patience and the ability to collaborate with a wider audience. Look at things from their perspective; try to add more value for them and ensure you are doing what you can to check their metric boxes. You’ll find that as you craft your personal process and continue to evolve that you’ll take lessons from great managers and not-so-great managers alike.