The Manager Track

Feedback is a cornerstone of effective leadership. Your ability to provide constructive criticism and recognition is crucial for team improvement, engagement, and achieving organizational goals. New leaders, in particular, often face the challenge of giving employees direct and candid feedback when they're still trying to establish trust and respect from the team. And this comes at a cost to both...

There are multiple inflection points throughout our careers, but one of the most significant is the move from an IC to a management role. Another critical juncture is when our technical expertise becomes less valuable, and our leadership skills and executive mindset become paramount. And that's what this week's episode of The Manager Track podcast is about. Ramona outlines 7 key elements of cultiv...

Workplace relationships can be challenging. It takes time to get to know people at work, understand their often differing styles, and to develop trust. And chances are high that there is at least one in the group that we find 'difficult' to work with. And while our communication skills and competencies tend to improve as we climb the ranks, there is also a greater chance of having to navigate tric...

Do you need everything to be perfect before moving forward? Perfectionism can be a powerful motivator for leaders, but it can also hinder productivity, creativity, and growth for both the leaders and their teams. In this episode, Ramona delves into the impact of perfectionism on leaders and how it can create internal conflicts. She highlights the signs that indicate when perfectionism is becoming...

Ever wondered how technology, like artificial intelligence (AI), might be changing the role of managers? It's an interesting thought experiment but it's not that far-fetched. In this episode of The Manager Track podcast, we're diving into that very topic. We'll explore how AI is shaking things up in the workplace and what it means for you as a leader. Here's the thing: As AI gets smarter, it will...

Consistency is a good thing, right? But what if you are being consistent just for the sake of consistency, and you lose sight of your real goal? For example, Ramona recently realized that she consistently went to the gym because she focused on being consistent. However, she got comfortable with the routine and lost sight of the real goal: gaining more strength and improving her endurance. Of cours...

Ever feel like you have countless unread emails, endless chat messages, a week full of meetings, and not nearly enough time to get to your to-do list? If you've ever felt like you just can't keep up with all the demands of your role as a new manager, this episode will help you identify what might be getting in the way. Ramona puts several common challenges managers face under the microscope to hel...

Daring to sound cliché... but I'm pretty sure you've heard phrases like, "Think about what you are thinking about," and "Our thoughts become our beliefs, and our beliefs become our action." But have you ever had someone call out your mental blind spots? Do you know what mental traps might be impacting your effectiveness as a leader? Would you be able to recognize them yourself? In this episode, Ra...

Have you ever thought about conducting your hiring process in the Metaverse? Or considered investing in an everboarding training strategy for your employees? These are just some of the many topics you'll hear about in this week's podcast episode. Ramona is joined by three learning and development (L&D) leaders for an insightful conversation on how to best support first-time managers. The panel...

GenAI isn't a trend or a fad that will eventually fade. It is crucial for leaders to not only understand it but also be involved in conversations and early initiatives regarding GenAI's use in their workplace. But now, let's get a bit more tactical. GenAI is impacting business strategies, workflows, and employee productivity. However, leaders can also leverage it to improve communication with thei...

Imagine that sinking feeling when you realize you may have to let someone go from your team. It's one of the most difficult situations a manager faces. In most cases, the manager has been feeling this tugging going on for a while but has put it off, hoping that things would improve. But at some point they have to face the inevitable. What's worse, if they were the one that hired this employee, the...

Do great leaders make history, or does history make great leaders? Whether it’s a political upheaval like what Napoleon faced, an economic depression as with Roosevelt, or a company facing an existential challenge, great leaders have historically grasped these moments as opportunities for significant change. In fact, the desire to bring about positive change and make a difference is a common threa...

Ever had that moment when what you said or did unexpectedly turned someone's mood sour? As a leader, handling dissatisfaction within your team is inevitable and can require emotional intelligence and managerial finesse. While it can be uncomfortable delivering news or making decisions that not everyone likes, it's your responsibility as a leader to make tough calls when needed. So how can you navi...

Can you recall that last conversation you had with someone when you noticed they weren't fully present with you and giving you their fullest attention? Maybe they checked their phones every so often, maybe they were watching people walking by, or they were more interested telling you about their own experiences rather than trying to really hear and understand what you were trying to communicate. H...

Leadership is not just about setting direction; it's also about revealing vulnerabilities. In this episode, Ramona and guest, Shawn Stewart, discuss the importance of transparency and vulnerability in leadership. Shawn Stewart is a highly respected leader with substantial experience in the engineering sector. Currently holding the title of VP of Engineering at EcoCart, Shawn has spent over two dec...

In this captivating episode of The Manager Track podcast, host Ramona Shaw welcomes a distinguished guest, Richard Triggs, renowned for his innovative approach to executive recruitment. Richard shares invaluable insights on navigating the job market and retaining exceptional talent within organizations, providing a glimpse into the strategies that have underpinned the success of Arete Executives....

Have you wondered what other leaders are currently doing on the topic of AI? Even if your workplace as a whole isn't a frontrunner in the space, it's vital for you, as a leader, to equip yourself with the necessary skills early on and begin embracing and even leading these conversations. In this week's episode of The Manager Track podcast, Ramona delves into the impactful convergence of leadership...

The allure of success and influence isn't just something that happens with the latest viral post. It can also happen when new managers try to mimic the behaviors of respected and influential figures in their organization. Understandably so. New managers want to establish themselves as credible and effective leaders and may naturally feel inclined to embody similar traits, communication styles, dec...

"Quitter's Day." No, it's not the day that a person quits their job. It's the second Friday in January, designated as the day when most people are likely to give up on their New Year's resolution (unofficially, of course). Change, no matter how big or small can be difficult because our brains are wired to seek established patterns of consistency. I'm sure you can easily recall that feeling of disc...

Do you ever feel like your emotions are running the show? As leaders, we often struggle with the pressure to keep things bottled up and be "professional." But what if there was actually a benefit in embracing your emotions, both good and bad? In this episode of The Manager Track podcast, Ramona proposes that there is a way to leverage those emotions to create positive outcomes. As a leader, unders...

In this week's episode of the Manager Track podcast, host Ramona Shaw delves into the intriguing subject of coachability and its crucial role in personal and professional development. She begins by setting the stage with a helpful overview of what coaching conversations entail and then unpacks the four pivotal aspects of coachability: self-reflection, openness to feedback, action-taking, and self-...

In 2024, we anticipate a significant transformation in technological landscapes, with artificial intelligence (AI) at the center stage. Even if your organization isn't addressing the topic of AI yet, it's critical for you as a leader to get ahead of the curve and learn how AI will transform your role, affect your team, and create both advantages and disadvantages for your workplace. The sooner you...

Are you walking into the new year wanting to accelerate your career? If so, then this episode is for you. It's a re-release of Episode 152, one of the most popular episodes of The Manager Track podcast. ______________________ We've all been there: feeling like we're just repeating the same mistakes or not retaining the things have heard. But what if you took a lesson from those experiences, rather...

This is a re-release of one of the most popular episodes of The Manager Track podcast. If you've ever struggled with analysis paralysis, overthinking, or just plain 'ol stinkin' thinkin' then this episode is for you. When we think something over and over again, our thoughts quickly become patterns and those patterns then turn into beliefs. Now beliefs can either be positive beliefs (things that wi...

In this week's episode, we discuss how to nail leadership interviews with insights and strategies from Farah Sharghi. With a wealth of experience as a former Director of Recruitment and HR professional at tech giants like Google, Lyft, Uber, and TikTok, Farah shares invaluable tips to help you shine in your next interview. Listen in to: gain insider knowledge on how to extract valuable information...