How To Become a Better Manager with Ashley Herd

Jan 29, 2026

Ashley Herd, former Chief People Officer and General Counsel who founded Manager Method and wrote The Manager Method. She talks about why many promoted managers were never trained. Short, practical frameworks for pausing, considering team needs, and acting. Why clarity beats vague autonomy and how AI exposes broken performance processes.

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INSIGHT

Feedback Is A Human Need

People want to know how they are doing and crave clear feedback rather than robotic reviews.
AI can help script conversations but should not replace the human act of giving feedback.

ANECDOTE

Five-Star Reviews Before Termination

Ashley describes employment cases where glowing performance reviews preceded termination.
Those inconsistent reviews often become central evidence in legal disputes about performance.

INSIGHT

Annual Reviews Can Be Deceptive

Annual reviews often substitute for regular feedback and can feel robotic or outsourced to AI.
Regular, direct conversations build trust and prevent surprise performance issues.

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Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week I have the honor of welcoming Ashley Herd to the show. She is a former Chief People Officer and General Counsel who has trained over a quarter of a million managers through LinkedIn Learning and live corporate trainings. Ashley built Manager Method after leading HR in legal teams at McKinsey, Yum! Brands and Modern Luxury. She has a new book out called The Manager Method.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…new managers, experienced leaders, and anyone responsible for developing people who wants a more practical, human way to manage performance. If you've ever struggled with giving feedback, felt unsure how much autonomy to give your team, or questioned whether traditional performance reviews actually work, this episode will feel especially relevant.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…most managers aren't failing because they don't care, they're failing because they were never taught how to manage. In this episode, Ashley breaks down why so many well-intentioned leaders fall into patterns like avoiding feedback, overcorrecting, or defaulting to vague autonomy. She introduces a more structured, honest approach to management. We talk about why people actually want feedback, how AI is changing (and exposing) broken performance processes, and what managers can do differently to help their teams thrive.

KEY TAKEAWAYS…

Most managers are promoted for performance rather than trained for leadership, creating gaps in expectations and feedback.
Autonomy without structure often leaves employees feeling uncertain rather than empowered.
Avoiding feedback is usually driven by good intentions, but it ultimately limits growth and trust.
Consistent, direct feedback helps people feel respected, supported, and clear about where they stand.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…I loved Ashley's honest take on how good intentions often lead managers astray. Her insight that people don't need perfection but rather clarity reframes feedback as an act of respect, not criticism. It's a powerful reminder that strong management isn't about control or charisma, but about creating the conditions where people know where they stand and how to grow.

Running Time: 28:57

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Find Ashley Online:

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Ashley's Book: The Manager Method: A Practical Framework to Lead, Support, and Get Results