The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You by Julie Zhuo

The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You is a book written by Julie Zhuo about the nuances of becoming and excelling at being a manager, as well as how to make the leap from leading as an individual contributor, to leading multiple people. Drawing from her own experience as a leader at Silicon Valley tech giants, such as Facebook and Quip, Julie guides readers through the sometimes confusing and daunting task of taking on the manager role and leading teams to success.

The book provides a unique and practical perspective on how to become a successful manager. While there is no simple formula for attaining such a position, Julie identifies and details the key elements necessary for one to become a great boss and manager. At the outset, she emphasizes the importance of personal growth and developing self-awareness. Managers need to be self-aware of their personal strengths and weaknesses as well as the best way to use those qualities to benefit their team, organization and current role in management. She recommends spending time observing oneself, identifying a leadership style, reflecting on the values and how they show up in the daily work, and self-assessment based on the feedback from others.

Julie then dives into a more tactical and strategic discussion about how to lead and manage a team. She focuses on understanding team objectives, promoting collaboration and camaraderie between team members, successfully delegating tasks, and limiting micromanagement while still providing enough structure and guidance. She also covers topics such as how to manage remote teams, set expectations, lead during a crisis, and have difficult conversations.

In the latter half of the book, Julie dives into the many roles and responsibilities that come along with being a manager. This includes giving feedback and guidance, development of team members, and leading in a way that encourages autonomy and ownership. She emphasizes the importance of developing relationships with employees and other stakeholders, as well as exercising communication skills, developing leadership skills and EQ, and regularly checking in with team members.

Overall, The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You by Julie Zhuo provides a very strategic and practical perspective on how to manage and lead individuals and teams. From self-awareness and reflection to more tactical and tactical strategies and tasks, Julie’s book provides a comprehensive overview on how to become great a manager. This book would be an ideal resource for anyone interested in understanding the nuances of being a manager and how to take on this new role with confidence and success.