When you rise to higher levels of leadership and people management, expect to be invited to more meetings. If you feel like you're not sure when to get work done, because meetings have taken over your calendar, then today's episode will help! You'll learn a simple process you can use today to re-evaluate your meetings, so you can find small ways to make them much better. You may also need to reconsider which meetings you attend, and which you decline or delegate. Just because you're...

You can find the most valuable lessons on being an effective manager and leader from experiences you have outside of your regular work. A side quest (or side hustle) can help you tap into strengths and develop abilities that you can then bring, more intentionally, to your job. In today's episode I share the story of my time as a fitness instructor, and how it helped make me a better Director in my corporate job. Let's discuss! After the Episode: RSVP for Career Conversation: ...

Think about your career and work as being part of an ecosystem. It will give you a useful perspective for addressing problems you face as a manager and leader. Let's discuss! After the episode: Join the next Career Conversation: Pivots + Side Hustles. RSVP here: https://lu.ma/hswnn6lv Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol/ For 1:1 coaching, book a consult: https://calendly.com/kimnicol/consultation https://kimnicol.com/ --- Send in a voice...

Bonus episode with *video* and an invitation! Join me and career coach Wendy Saccuzzo for a live (on Zoom) Career Conversation on Pivots and Side Hustles. One of the inspirations behind this podcast is the experience I had over 12 years ago, when I was promoted to a Director role and started managing a team of my peers. There wasn't much guidance or training available to me as a new manager, and it's one reason I started teaching Essential Skills for New Managers, which then led to this...

There will be times at work when you wonder, "WTF are they doing?!?" When you're a manger you might wonder this about someone on your team who reports to you, or your own manager and leadership team. Instead of saying that out loud, however, try asking this question instead: "What are you trying to solve for?" You want a better picture of how this person is thinking and seeing -- because that is what drives their choices and actions. Using this question will help you illuminate...

As an individual contributor, your role is to be good at your specific task or function. As a manager and leader, your role shifts -- and now you're making more decisions. When you understand how to make decisions, you'll feel more confident and less drained. In this episode you'll learn: Signs you might be avoiding a decision The real cost of "keeping your options open" Why the freedom of making a decisions feels better than the freedom of not deciding After the...

Your health and well-being make a difference in how you show up as a manager and leader. And, your work can also effect your health and well-being. So in today's episode, you'll learn an easy framework to help organize your thinking about this. It will enable you to recognize what you do well, and identify areas you'd like to nurture. Let's discuss! After the Episode: Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol/ Register for Create Positive Change here. Book a...

To work effectively and sustainably, you want to think about what support you need. This might be new if you're extremely self-reliant. Your first impulse might be to say, "I'm good, I don't need any support." You might also do this if you feel that asking for support somehow makes you look bad. But being able to identify and advocate for resources is a leadership skill, and one that will benefit both you and your team. Let's discuss! After the episode: Book a consult to talk with me...

Perfectionism isn't about being perfect. It's about feeling safe. In this episode, learn to recognize the signs of perfectionism holding you back -- including when you might drift towards micromanaging. When you can recognize when it happens and understand why it's happening, you will be more empowered to access your agency and choose a more useful approach. Let's discuss! After the episode: Book a consult to discuss 1:1 coaching with Kim: https://calendly.com/kimnicol/consultation Join the...

In the course of your career you will want to develop a well-nurtured network. This will help you navigate your career, as well as manage and lead more effectively. In this episode you will learn more about why you should care about growing and nurturing your network, as well as gain some specific, simple steps for how to do that. Let's discuss! After the episode: Schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation and goals, and learn about my coaching program: ...

Becoming a better communicator and more effective manager means being less reactive and more intentional. How do you do that? Start by growing your self-awareness. When you slow down, step back, and see your own habits and preferences, you will be able to bring more intention to how you communicate. Instead of simply operating by default and being reactive, you become more deliberate and intentional. Let's discuss! After the episode: I'm taking new clients. To talk with me about your...

In this episode I talk with listener Adrian Bond about lessons learned as a new manager. We discuss: managing peers ("Who am I to tell these people what to do?"), the key difference between being a manager and a leader, how work stress can affect your home life, the importance of redefining success ("recognize what to STOP doing"), and the importance of training before you move up into a manager role. After the episode: I'm taking new clients. To schedule a consult and discuss 1:1...

How do you manage change effectively? First, you must expect there to be resistance. When you understand what might be creating resistance or avoidance, you will be better at creating a plan to address it. And one of the best places to start is with yourself. Let's discuss! After the episode: Schedule a consult to talk about 1:1 coaching: https://kimnicol.com/ https://calendly.com/kimnicol/consultation Get on the Wait List for the group program and other...

The more aware you are of how to work with emotions, the more effective you will be as a communicator and leader. Especially when it comes to disappointment. This one emotion is often behind why we avoid conversations, or don't ask for what we need. Instead of trying to avoid disappointment at all costs, try: 1) Accepting it is a human emotion, and let yourself feel it 2) Identify the unmet expectation, 3) Learn from it, and 4) Be curious about what's next. Let's discuss! After the...

Managing people and being a leader means people look to you for direction. Realize that you can be direct, directive, and clarify direction (the vision towards which you want people to go) -- and, importantly, you can do all this in a way that is kind and clear. There are examples of this all around you, when you start to look for them! In this episode you'll also learn how making decisions and experiencing discomfort come with the territory. The episode ends with three reflection...

A good foundation makes everything easier, and it is never too late to revisit your foundation and make some improvements. In this episode you'll learn about Strategic Failure, and why so many new managers worry about whether they are doing a good job. Let's discuss! The next Group Program for New Managers starts February 6, and enrollment is open now. Go to: https://kimnicol.com/newmanagers/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kimnicol/message

What do new managers need to know about working with HR? And what can you do to create great relationships at work -- with your manager, your team, and internal clients? This episode covers all that and more, with special guest Maggie Reyes. Before becoming a Master Certified Life Coach and expert in marriage and relationships, Maggie worked in HR. In this episode she shares her wisdom, strategic perspective, and practical tips to help you manage more effectively and lead more...

Happy New Year! Getting a fresh perspective is like looking with new eyes at a familiar scene. You will find new opportunities and possibilities. In this episode you will learn a simple framework to help you get a fresh perspective, so you can make micro-adjustments. Small changes add up, and can be easier to implement in the moment so you build up momentum. Whether you are a first-time manager, an aspiring manager, or simply want a new approach to managing and leading others, this...

When you care about your team and want to do a good job as a manager and leader, it's easy to over-give and always put others first. If you being self-reliant is one of your strengths, you might not have much practice in self-care and asking for support. But as you grow in your career and gain more responsibility, it becomes more important. When more people depend on you, tending to your own self-care will help you be your best. Let's discuss! After the episode: Schedule a free consult...

As a leader, you have more people looking to you -- and depending on you. You might feel more pressure and notice more fear of making mistakes. In this episode you'll learn how to recover from failure, and how your perspective will determine what happens next. Let's discuss! After the episode: Join the Wait List for the next Group Program: https://kimnicol.com/newmanagers/ For 1:1 coaching, schedule a consult: https://kimnicol.com/ --- Send in a voice message:...

Work doesn't happen in a vacuum. When you're a new manager, there are two things that you'll want to identify in order to be more effective: Systems and Environment. These are often relational, making them tacit and invisible. And yet they are everywhere. In this episode, I'll talk about a few specific systems you'll want to identify, and some aspects of the larger environment you want to be aware of. Let's discuss! After the episode: Join the Wait List for the Group Program for New...

In this Listener Spotlight episode I talk with Amberlee, a new manager of a small team with big wisdom and insights to share. We talk about: self-care, perfectionism, identity, culture and intersectionality, and the role of vulnerability and transparency in being a human-centered leader and manager. You will learn so much from her! To learn more about Amberlee and her work, visit her website: www.a-green.co.uk After the episode: Get on the Wait List for the next Group Program: ...

Watch my free training on Self-Advocacy when you join the Wait List for the Group Program for New Managers: kimnicol.com/newmanagers One of the most valuable skills in your leadership toolbox is your ability to Ask. New managers sometimes assume they should just know everything. Instead of wondering, Ask. In this episode you'll get some examples of how to do that, and what it can sound like. I share a situation that a listener submitted, and my thoughts for why an Ask might be a great...

When your to-do list is long enough, try the "To Be" list. This is a simple concept that can simplify your life as a new manager. When you feel overwhelmed, or are not sure what to do, the "To Be" list will help. Practice it regularly and you will see real change in your confidence as a leader, and the level of calm you feel in the moment. After the episode: Get on the Wait List for the next Group Program: kimnicol.com/newmanagers Book a consult for 1:1 coaching: kimnicol.com ---...