Today’s episode is with Russ Laraway, a seasoned leader who's been at Google, Twitter, Candor Inc, Qualtrics, and is now the Chief People Officer for Goodwater CapitalSince we last had Russ on the show, he’s written a new book, titled: “When They Win, You Win.”On today’s episode, we dive deep into the management frameworks and original research that Russ discusses in his book. He starts by pointing out how broken our process for selecting managers is to begin with, where we often default to just promoting the highest performer on a team, rather than looking for folks who explicitly demonstrate leadership chops. He explains the raw ingredients that point to whether someone’s ready to take on a management role — even if they weren’t the best individual contributor of the bunch. And if you’re looking to hire a manager from outside of the company, he’s got plenty of interview questions to suss out the right hire.Next, we explore the heaps of research that Russ did in writing this book, and how that led to him pulling together a few specific frameworks for managers to lean on. This includes a list of the behaviors of highly-engaging managers — and how you can put these into practice.As Russ discusses in today’s interview, there are countless resources out there on how to be a better manager — often with tons of conflicting advice. Russ distills all of this down to an essential, research-backed guide for the modern manager that cuts through the noise.You can follow Russ on Twitter at @ral1. His book, “When They Win, You Win” comes out on June 7, 2022.You can email us questions directly at review@firstround.com or follow us on Twitter @ twitter.com/firstround and twitter.com/brettberson

Russ Laraway, a leadership expert with 30 years at Google, Twitter, and Qualtrics, delves into the pitfalls of ineffective management. He introduces the 'Big Three' leadership essentials: direction, coaching, and career development. Discover why many leaders struggle with prioritization and why career conversations often come off as insincere. With practical insights and a call to gritty self-reflection, Russ challenges managers to embrace clarity and impact in their leadership approach, paving the way for greater team engagement.

Russ Laraway: When They Win, You Win Russ has had a diverse 28 year operational management career. He was a Company Commander in the Marine Corps before starting his first company, Pathfinders. From there, Russ went to the Wharton School, and then onto management roles at Google and Twitter. He then co-founded Candor, Inc., along with best selling author and past guest Kim Scott. Over the last several years, Russ served as the Chief People Officer at Qualtrics, and is now the Chief People Officer for the fast-growing venture capital firm, Goodwater Capital, where he is helping Goodwater and its portfolio companies to empower their people to do great work and be totally psyched while doing it. He's the author of the book When They Win, You Win: Being a Great Manager Is Simpler Than You Think*. It’s the job of every leader to give feedback. In this episode, Russ and I discuss what to say and what to avoid when giving feedback. Plus, we explore how to think about truth and the most effective ways to start and close feedback conversations in order to help everybody move forward. Key Points Avoid spending too much time talking about the impending conversation and just have the conversation. Use language like this: “I think I’m seeing some behavior that I believe is getting in your way. Are you in a spot where you can hear that right now?” Use the framework of situation, behavior/work, and impact in order to organize your feedback. Invite dialogue by asking: “What are your thoughts about that?” Avoid framing feedback discussions around “the truth” — there are always multiple truths in every discussion like this. You are offering them what you see. Resources Mentioned When They Win, You Win: Being a Great Manager Is Simpler Than You Think* by Russ Laraway When They Win, You Win website Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Three Steps to Soliciting Feedback, with Tom Henschel (episode 107) Three Steps to Great Career Conversations, with Russ Laraway (episode 370) How to Balance Care and Accountability When Leading Remotely, with Jonathan Raymond (episode 464) How to Reduce Bias in Feedback, with Therese Huston (episode 510) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Former Google and Twitter leader Russ Laraway shares his formula for great management, discussing leadership journey, book When They Win You Win, positive coaching, and CEO admiration. Learn from his experience in managing large teams and building a thriving work environment.

In this engaging talk, Russ Laraway, author of 'When They Win, You Win' and management expert, returns to discuss the transformative potential of career conversations. He critiques traditional models, introducing his 'gravity assist slingshot' method to help employees align with their true ambitions. The group dives into why leaders often shy away from these crucial discussions and how real investment can reshape team dynamics. With tips on fostering trust and fostering a supportive culture, this discussion is a must for any manager aiming to elevate their team's growth.