Career and management advice is in no short supply, but that’s probably for good reason. One Gallup study found that nearly 50% of people surveyed have quit their job to get away from their manager. That’s not good. So, in case you missed it (ICYMI), here are the top articles we found this week focused on how to excel in your career, look good in front of the big wigs and become a better manager of people.

 

Shifting from star performer to star manager

Here’s something you might not already know: it’s difficult to manage a team of super smart, high achievers – especially if you’re one of them! Harvard Business Review published an article titled, “Shifting from Star Performer to Star Manager,” which featured some great advice on how to navigate the transition from team member to manager. The author, Annie McKee, highlights research from David McClelland. According to McClelland, there are three human needs that are very important to keep front of mind when managing people. Here’s a summary from the article:

 

1. Need for achievement – The article states, “A lot of star performers have a really hard time re-directing their achievement drive away from their personal goals and towards others’ success.” The fix? Help team members discover and tackle challenges, and celebrate their success along the way.
2. Need for affiliation – Let’s face it, we spend the majority of our day at work, so it’s natural for us to build relationships and develop friendships. But when it comes to a manager/employee relationship, you need to tread lightly. There’s nothing wrong with being friendly and authentic, but remember you control their schedules, workloads, salaries and promotions. Jealousy and resentment are toxic and ruin teams.
3. Need for power – Power can be a slippery slope. Rather than using your influence to control others, channel your energy into their professional growth. Use your power to shine light on their achievements, rather than control their progress.

 

Read the full article for some more great advice.

 

3 signs you’re an overly critical boss

Here’s something that needs to be talked about more often: a startling number of people can’t stand their managers. Admitting there is a problem is the first step, right? Even with the best intentions, many managers struggle with coming off as overly critical. To help put an end to this, Mashable put together a list of questions to determine if you are an overly critical boss and how you can fix it. Here’s a recap from the article:

 

1. Question: Do you share why you’re hard to please? A lot of managers are hardest on their top performers; constantly pushing them to be better. This is often interpreted incorrectly, leaving the employee thinking they’re not doing a good enough job.
   The fix? You guessed it: be transparent. Tell the employee you think they’re fabulous and the reason you’re pushing them is because you want them to flourish.

2. Question: Do you know that good intentions aren’t enough? Blaming your behavior on good intentions isn’t going to cut it. Your actions need to reflect
   The fix? Be respectful, “And if you are challenging someone because you think she can do more, you should be backing that up with growth opportunities and interesting, meaningful assignments.”

3. Question: Do you encourage two-sided communication? Don’t underestimate the power of listening. Frustration often brews because people feel like their opinions and concerns are not heard.
   The fix? Listen! Actively practice your listening skills. It’s as simple as that!

 

Check out the full article for more details!

 

 

#MindBlown: How to look good in front of your boss

Here’s something to chew on: you don’t get promoted for fulfilling your mangers expectations; it’s your job to work. Yeah, you come in, work really hard to get everything done correctly and on time, but are you really exceeding expectations? To get ahead, you need to roll up your sleeves and go above and beyond your job description. This week, Forbes put together a list of the 7 steps to blowing your boss’s mind. Here’s the list featured in the article:

 

1. Go beyond professional development and learn about your organization’s industry, competitors, latest developments and challenges.
2. Instead of always having the answer, pre-empt the question.
3. Instead of owning up to mistakes once they’re discovered, bring them to light yourself.
4. Instead of asking for training, do it on your own.
5. Be proactive, rather than reactive to problems.
6. Build relationships with other departments.
7. Be the calm one in a crisis.

 

Read the full article to get more insights on how to look good in front of your boss.