Dִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִִo you ever think that maybe you care too much about certain things, that it costs you something? Like, maybe you think you are “too kind” and people take advantage of you, or maybe you care too much about one aspect of your profession but then people think you are not good at other things?
Throughout my career as a product designer, I’ve received feedback that surprised me more than once. “I think you will make a good people manager.” “Oh God, why do you have to leave? You are our last savior.” “Thanks for advocating for me — I got promoted.” Looking back at those moments, I feel validated and grateful. I never thought of myself as a natural people manager, and honestly, I still don’t.
At the same time, I once received feedback that I needed to get better at managing up and around. That note has stayed with me.
Being a manager means balancing three things at once. Managing up means keeping your leadership informed and accountable for your …
