Performance Reviews

Performance Management and Promotional Processes in Startups

This article outlines ways for early stage startups to approach performance management and promotional development. It suggests establishing a good cadence, giving team members stretch work, collecting data, and conducting performance reviews every three months. It also emphasizes the importance of defining and articulating the promotional process, and understanding the difference between promotions and raises.

Lessons Learned from a Broken Relationship with a Manager

After a disagreement with his manager over the hiring process, the narrator's relationship with his manager deteriorated and eventually ended when his manager left the company. Through this experience, the narrator learned the importance of assuming good intentions, aligning values and strengths with the company culture, and having a structured outlook when interviewing or deciding to work with a team or organization. He also realized that staying in a position at a company because of a good manager is just as important as leaving a manager, not a company.

Getting Team Buy-in To Improve

When starting as a new manager of an existing team, it is important to take a step back and observe the team from both the inside and outside. After collecting feedback, involve the team in decision making and brainstorming solutions. This approach was successful for the new manager at Atlassian, who was able to reorganize the team's planning process and create a healthy team environment.

Being A New Manager On a Dispirited Team

A manager took over a troubled team with low morale and output. To build trust and start fixing the deeper issues, they had 1:1s with each team member, dealt with low hanging fruit issues, and fixed the scrum process. To deal with deeper issues, they built a career plan, roadmap, and an open and transparent environment. The two lessons learned were to listen to the team and build an environment for feedback.

The Best Leaders are Storytellers

Companies have traditionally relied on data-driven presentations to provide insights and ideas for change. However, the power of storytelling can be used to communicate and educate about a brand and focus, and to connect with audiences from all backgrounds. Stories are universal and create authentic meaning, and can be used to demonstrate passions and successes. Leaders should use storytelling to create meaningful connections and collaboration.

How to Be an Effective New Manager

A successful transition from individual contributor to manager requires a shift in mindset from focusing on one area to keeping an eye out and harmonizing the overall situation. To do this, the manager should have regular one-on-one meetings with their team members and use an ancient Egyptian story of the king as an eye to symbolize the importance of paying attention and observing.