Quill / Moments / Leadership quotes for hard calls and first-time managers
Leadership quotes for hard calls and first-time managers
Last month you were moaning about the manager with these people. Now you are the manager, and there's a conversation at two o'clock you've been rehearsing in the shower.
New managers often feel like impostors, and many keep it to themselves. Those who talk about it mention preparing hard conversations properly, opening with the specific behaviour and its effect, and keeping a list of past wins for the bad weeks. Some find a person whose style they can borrow until they have one of their own.
These lines suit the corridor before you stand up to speak, the decision that will upset someone, and the afternoon you take the blame for the team's mistake. They're steady and carry no swagger.
The moments
- Day one managing people who were your peers
- Outside the room before a hard conversation
- Standing up in front of everyone
- A decision you know will upset someone
- Keeping calm while the room panics
What people say helps
- Preparing properly before a difficult conversation
- Opening with the specific behaviour and its effect
- Listing past wins to answer the impostor feeling
- Borrowing the style of someone they respect
“Fake it till you make it” and “lead from the front” sound fine on a poster and give you nothing to say at two o'clock.
Quill Originals are written by Quill. Popular sayings are widely repeated lines with no name attached. Lines with a name are checked word for word against public-domain books.
Quill Originals
Decency has always needed someone willing to go first.
You lead the parents' committee. Yes, that counts.
Your team knows what's broken. They're waiting for you to ask.
Your best legacy here may be someone you trained who's better than you.
First team meeting. Ask more than you announce.
Make the call, then own all of it.
Run for the committee. Rooms like that are short of good people.
You're allowed to lead like yourself and nobody else.
They knew you before the title, so they already know you're real.
Breathe out before the first word.
Read the agenda before you need it.
That was a hard call and you didn't hide from it.
Being needed is lovely until about four o'clock.
The hard conversation won't get easier in your calendar.
Sleep on it once. Twice is hiding.
Stand between your team and the nonsense from above when you can.
Say what you came to say, then sit down.
Someone has to say what happens next. Say the next small thing.
It matters that you care this much.
The apology goes first. The explanation can wait its turn.
Everyone you admire once looked up the meaning of something mid-meeting.
Write down three calls you got right. Read them before you walk in.
Popular sayings
Respect is earned, not given.
Start with the change you can make yourself.
Listen to understand, not to reply.
You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails.
Do your part, and do it well.
Pick your battles.
From the books
The Great walks with the Small without fear.
Read the passage around this line
"Who is there to take up my duties?" asked the setting sun. "I shall do what I can, my Master," said the earthen lamp. 154 By plucking her petals you do not gather the beauty of the flower. 155 Silence will carry your voice like the nest that holds the sleeping birds. 156 The Great walks with the Small without fear. The Middling keeps aloof. 157 The night opens the flowers in secret and allows the day to get thanks. 158 Power takes as ingratitude the writhings of its victims. 159 When we rejoice in our fulness, then we can part with our fruits with joy. 160 The raindrops kissed the earth and whispered,—"We are thy
A great man is always willing to be little.
Read the passage around this line
Our strength grows out of our weakness. The indignation which arms itself with secret forces does not awaken until we are pricked and stung and sorely assailed. A great man is always willing to be little. Whilst he sits on the cushion of advantages, he goes to sleep. When he is pushed, tormented, defeated, he has a chance to learn something; he has been put on his wits, on his manhood; he has gained facts; learns his ignorance; is cured of the insanity of conceit; has got …
Give me the strength never to disown the poor or bend my knees before insolent might.
Real kings hide away their crowns in their wardrobes, and affect a plain and poor exterior.
Read the passage around this line
… hour. Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. No man has learned anything rightly, until he knows that every day is Doomsday. ’Tis the old secret of the gods that they come in low disguises. ’Tis the vulgar great who come dizened with gold and jewels. Real kings hide away their crowns in their wardrobes, and affect a plain and poor exterior. In the Norse legend of our ancestors, Odin dwells in a fisher’s hut, and patches a boat. In the Hindoo legends, Hari dwells a peasant among peasants. In the Greek legend, Apollo lodges with the shepherds of Admetus; and Jove liked to rusticate among the poor Ethiopians. So, in …
People obey willingly where they are commanded kindly.
Men of sterling character have the courage to speak the truth, even when it is unpopular.
The zealous energetic man unconsciously carries others along with him.
If you would lift me, you must be on higher ground.
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