Good Work Does Not Speak for Itself Dear Reader , There is a belief many of us were raised on: Keep your head down.Do excellent work.Someone will notice. It is a decent way to raise a child but it is a poor way to run a career. Melody Wilding, author of Managing Up, says it plainly: “Good work does not speak for itself.” and she is right; Your leaders are not mind-readers. When you stay quiet about what you have done because you are afraid of sounding like you are showing off, you are not...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
AI Has Redefined What Good Work Means Dear Reader , Contrary to popular opinion, AI did not come for your job, it came for your busywork. Now those two are not the same thing and the gap between them is defining the career of this generation. First, let's take a moment to look at what AI tools already do without you in today's workplace: They summarise meetings. They draft the first version or your report. They organise notes, pull research, build trackers, and so on. For years, that was the...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Gen Z did the math on management, and said "no thanks" Dear Reader , Let me start with a number that caught my attention. More than half of Gen Z professionals say they don't want to become managers. Not "someday, maybe." No. Sixty-nine percent of them say the job is too much stress for too little reward. Now, the easy thing, the thing I've heard from many professionals when they hear this is this: We shake our heads and say, "This generation just doesn't want to work." But can I offer you a...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Why Your Team Doesn't Trust You Yet, And How To Earn It Dear Reader , Let's Start With a Hot Take: Respect doesn’t guarantee trust, but when you have trust, respect usually follows. Do You Agree or Disagree? I agree I disagree Ever since you took on that role, you’ve been friendly and you’re working harder than anyone, yet the team has remained guarded.The conversation changes when you walk in; they switch topics. Nobody’s rude, but nobody’s open either. That’s often a sign your team doesn’t...
3 months ago • 3 min read
"I Don't Do Office Politics" Dear Reader , You've most likely met a manager or colleague who says this " I don't do office politics" in fact this might just be you. You're good at your job, maybe the best on your team. You come early, deliver clean work, don't gossip, you don't do anyhow. And when the conversation turns to office politics, you say it with a straight face and a little pride: "Me? I don't do politics. I just face my work." It sounds like integrity. It feels like the high...
3 months ago • 4 min read
How to Manage Someone Older Than You; Without Losing Your Authority or Their Respect Every week, The Management Lab lands in the inboxes of new managers, 0-5 years, across Africa who are figuring out leadership in real time; without a manual, without a mentor, and often without anyone telling them the truth about what the role actually demands. If someone forwarded this to you and you want it in your inbox, subscribe below. It's free. And it might be the most useful thing you read this week....
4 months ago • 7 min read
Like Versus Respect: A Manager's Dilemma Every week, The Management Lab lands in the inboxes of new managers, 0-5 years, across Africa who are figuring out leadership in real time; without a manual, without a mentor, and often without anyone telling them the truth about what the role actually demands. This is that truth. Every week. If someone forwarded this to you and you want it in your inbox every week, subscribe below. It's free. And it might be the most useful thing you read this week....
4 months ago • 4 min read
The One Habit That Keeps New Managers From Losing Their Way Every week, The Management Lab lands in the inboxes of new managers, 0-5 years, across Africa who are figuring out leadership in real time; without a manual, without a mentor, and often without anyone telling them the truth about what the role actually demands. This is that truth. Every week. If someone forwarded this to you and you want it in your inbox every week, subscribe below. It's free. And it might be the most useful thing...
4 months ago • 6 min read
Promotion, Panic and the Need to Prove Yourself Every week, The Management Lab lands in the inboxes of new managers, 0-5 years, across Africa who are figuring out leadership in real time; without a manual, without a mentor, and often without anyone telling them the truth about what the role actually demands. This is that truth. Every week. If someone forwarded this to you and you want it in your inbox every week, subscribe below. It's free. And it might be the most useful thing you read this...
4 months ago • 5 min read