All of our First-time managers articles

Management

A Taxonomy of Troublemakers for Those Navigating Difficult Colleagues

Disruptive technology is one thing. Disruptive co-workers are another. Here, Dr. Jody Foster classifies the types of colleagues whom others find difficult — and advises how to navigate working with them.

Management

Our 6 Must Reads for First-Time Managers to Hit the Ground Running

Becoming a manager is like no other professional experience. It requires gaining a whole new skillset incredibly fast. This list will help you nail that transition.

Management

These 13 Exercises Will Prepare You for Work's Toughest Situations

Maggie Leung, VP of Content at Nerdwallet, has encountered every management challenge. Here, she shares the one practice that helps her thrive through difficult decisions and conversations.

People & Culture

The Best Interview Questions We've Ever Published

Over the years, we've published interview questions recommended by leaders across every field. Here are the very best for hiring excellent performers every time.

Engineering

How Instagram Co-founder Mike Krieger Took Its Engineering Org from 0 to 300 People

Instagram Co-founder and CTO Mike Krieger built one of the industry's leading technical teams from scratch. Here's how he navigated rapid scale.

Management

‘Pitch the Immeasurable’ and Other Leadership Tips

It's not easy making the transition from manager to executive. One Medical VP Marketing Vanessa Hope Schneider shares the lessons she leans on from her marketing, PR and publishing days that have helped her become a better leader.

Management

Track and Facilitate Your Engineers’ Flow States In This Simple Way

Cynthia Maxwell has led engineering teams at Slack, Apple, Yahoo! and Pinterest. Here's the management framework that's become one of the most powerful resources in her toolkit.

Management

This Matrix Helps Growing Teams Make Great Decisions

As CTO of Flatiron Health, Gil Shklarski has had to keep a rapidly-growing technical team aligned through many tough decisions. This is the framework that works every time.

Management

Warning: This Is Not Your Grandfather’s Talent Planning

So you've heard of radical candor by now, right? That's just one of many tools you'll need to be a better boss, according to Candor, Inc. co-founder Kim Scott. You also must master the different modes of performance on your team — especially for your top people. Here's why.

People & Culture

A People Ops Veteran on Navigating the Gnarliest Conversations

Climate Corporation's Chief People Officer Meg Makalou has been the human resources leader for startups big and small. Here, she tells of the three most daunting conversations people ops executives face — and recommends routes to resolution.

Management

Three Powerful Conversations Managers Must Have To Develop Their People

Google and Twitter veteran Russ Laraway breaks down the most critical conversations you must have with your employees to help them grow into fulfilling careers.

Management

On Receiving (and Truly Hearing) Radical Candor

Candor Inc. co-founders Kim Scott and Russ Laraway have both written and spoken often on how to give radical candor to colleagues. Here they turn the tables and focus on how to receive it.