As your team's manager, you're expected to have all the answers.
But what if you feel like you don't know what you're doing?
Enter The Making of a Manager. It's an everything-you-need-to-know field guide to rocking your job, earning your confidence, and leading your team to new horizons.
...or buy in bulk for your team
Interested in a bulk order? Drop me a note at bulkorders at juliezhuo.com to discuss pricing and other bonuses.
Praise for The Making of a Manager
"Julie does an incredible job simplifying the role of a manager. She pulls you in with all the awkward, funny and tough moments, and then takes you on an engaging journey. If you're a first time manager, you'll learn how to hit the ground running, and experienced managers will level-up their game!"
"Are you a new manager? Are you a little scared? Fear not. Julie Zhuo is here to help. She took on a manager position at one of the biggest start-ups of our generation before she felt quite ready, but she grew into the job. And now she's here to guide you as you grow into the job. By focusing on three big leadership themes —Purpose, People, and Process— she puts the emphasis right where it should be for the greatest success and satisfaction. This book will get you on the right track and keep you there."
"I've seen so many people thrust into management in high-growth companies with so little guidance. From now on, I will hand them this book. Its practical wisdom is immediately useful for the newly minted manager — and us old ones."
"As an entrepreneur and CEO, I've read ALL of the business books, but this is one I'll be turning to again and again as a reference for how to help my team thrive. It's a leadership manifesto for a startup, global mega-company, or anything in-between."
"Julie is like that friend giving you some much-needed tips over coffee—her style cuts through industry jargon and gets at the heart of how to lead with confidence and help your team do their best work."
"The Making of a Manager is an excellent, approachable and comprehensive guide for those making the transition into management. This is something we'd give out to new managers at Slack and it could very well set a new standard for new managers."
"Julie Zhuo had to learn to be a manager fast, as her role kept expanding in the hyper-growth environment of a successful Silicon Valley start-up. In THE MAKING OF A MANAGER, she shares what she learned--often, the hard way. She combines cutting-edge analysis of how organizations work with engaging and accessible examples of how theory plays out in real life, with stories of what she did right and wrong."
"I wish I'd had this book when I started managing a team at Instagram. Julie covers the full range of becoming a manager, from your first meetings with your team to accomplishing huge goals together."
"Every business book I read as a consultant and later a CEO was written by a man. Julie brings an entirely fresh perspective on leadership as a brilliant hacker, first-generation American, and young mother. This book is everything Silicon Valley appreciates in Julie: humble, inspiring, and whip-smart."
"At startups, individuals asked to manage are rarely set-up for success. Julie Zhuo gives new managers the tools they need to help their people and company win."
"When you're first made a manager, typically two things are true. One, you really don't want to be like one of those bad managers you've suffered under. And two, you've got no map on how to avoid becoming one of those self-same bad managers. But now you do. Use this wise, practical book to master purpose, people and process and speed towards being a great manager right from the start."
Book contents
Great Managers Are Made, Not Born
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It's OK if you don't know what you're doing. Nobody else does either.
What is Management?
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The one-line definition of a manager's job, and the thing that separates a great manager from an average manager.
Your First Three Months
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There are four types of new managers, and they all have different challenges in their first few months on the job.
Leading a Small Team
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Trust is the most important ingredient -- here's why you need it and how you build it.
The Art of Feedback
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What great feedback looks like and how to give it.
Managing Yourself
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Understanding your strengths and weaknesses, and finding confidence when you feel like an impostor.
Amazing Meetings
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Yes, those two words can be said together. Here's how to make them a reality.
Hiring Well
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Betting smart when you're building your team.
Making Things Happen
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The art of developing a concrete vision and executing perfectly.
Leading a Growing Team
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How to delegate, scale and manage up.
Nurturing Culture
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How to create the kind of team you want to be a part of.
The Journey is 1% Finished
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Your education as a manager -- no matter what stage you're at in your career -- is something that grows by the day.
About Julie Zhuo
Julie Zhuo (@joulee) is one of Silicon Valley's top product design executives. She leads the teams behind some of the world's most popular mobile and web services used by billions of people every day. She writes about technology, design, and leadership on her popular blog The Year of the Looking Glass and in publications like the New York Times and Fast Company. She graduated with a computer science degree from Stanford University and lives with her husband and two children in California.
Contact Julie for speaking events at speaking at juliezhuo.com, or press inquiries at press at juliezhuo.com.
Contact Julie for speaking events at speaking at juliezhuo.com, or press inquiries at press at juliezhuo.com.