Amy B and Amy G offer advice on navigating leadership without formal authority, handling difficult decisions as a first time manager, dealing with a difficult boss, starting fresh after a toxic job, and navigating organizational subculture and building trust. They provide practical strategies and insights to help listeners overcome workplace challenges and navigate various professional situations.
Leaders in non-managerial positions can define their roles, mentor, and provide feedback to gain valuable management experience.
Female managers in male-dominated industries should focus on building trust, showcasing competence, and removing obstacles for their teams.
Deep dives
Navigating a leadership role without formal authority
In this episode, a listener seeks advice on how to manage a team when she is not a formal manager but is in a leadership position. The hosts suggest that she should propose a definition of her role to her boss and outline decision-making rights for the team. They also encourage her to mentor and provide feedback to her associates, even if she doesn't have formal authority over their performance reviews or career progression. Ultimately, they advise her to gain valuable management experience in this role and to document her responsibilities and accomplishments for future opportunities.
Overcoming challenges as a female leader in a male-dominated industry
Another listener raises concerns about her experience as a female manager in a male-dominated industry. The hosts mention research on the pressures women face in such environments and advise her to focus on building trust with her team. They suggest understanding their needs and providing resources and approvals to earn their support. Additionally, they recommend showcasing her competence and authenticity as a leader by leveraging unique strengths and seeking feedback from trusted team members. They also emphasize that her role is to orchestrate the efforts of her team, remove obstacles, and bring out the best in them, ultimately establishing trust.
Dealing with a difficult manager and protecting one's sanity
One listener seeks advice on how to manage a boss who dismisses her ideas, creates boundary issues, and undermines her. The hosts acknowledge the challenging situation and recommend documenting interactions and work to protect oneself. Since previous attempts to raise concerns with leadership were not successful, they suggest disengaging emotionally from the boss's behavior and focusing on individual work. They also suggest exploring opportunities to move to different projects within the company or even consider leaving for a healthier work environment.
Moving on from a toxic work experience and starting anew
A listener expresses concerns about how a previous toxic work environment and problematic bosses might affect her new role. The hosts advise her to be self-aware and recognize that her new colleagues should be given a fair chance. They suggest writing a letter to herself to gain closure from the past experience and reflect on the lessons learned. They recommend setting goals and creating if-then statements to manage triggers and react differently in the new environment. Overall, they encourage her to focus on what she can control and be open to the opportunity for a fresh start.
What if one of your first assignments at a new job was to fire people? What should you do if the person leading a project you’re on isn’t giving clear direction, demands that you work nights and weekends, bristles at your feedback—and leadership tells you to fall in line? These are two of the five situations that Amy B and Amy G talk through in this episode. They offer advice to the women who wrote in with their questions, with the hope that it will help them and anyone who’s been in a similar situation, or might be one unfortunate day.