How to avoid “Manager Gameface!” and become an authentic leader

Talk at CalibrateSF 2018.

Links to resources:
See lots of other manager readmes, and get feedback on your own: https://managerreadme.com/
How and why I wrote my readme
:
https://medium.com/@kawomersley/why-and-how-to-share-your-manager-readme-plus-heres-mine-8a4fe188ee1b
Lara Hogan on Leadership Colours:

https://larahogan.me/blog/leadership-style-colors/
The Paradox of Authenticity:

https://hbr.org/2015/01/the-authenticity-paradox

Openness and authenticity are critical to gaining trust and respect your new direct reports. How can you do this when you don’t yet know what you’re doing? Rationally afraid of appearing incompetent, many new managers resort to putting on "Manager Gameface": presenting a sanitized, slightly robotic version of yourself, and pretending to know what you’re doing. Your strategy is doomed to fail because you don’t - but that’s ok! In this practical talk, Katie will share real-world stories and tips about how to jump-start trust building and be the right kind of vulnerable. You’ll learn how to avoid the dreaded “Manger Gameface”, and become the confident, authentic and professional leader that your team can rely on.

Transcript

1. How to avoid “Manager Gameface!” and become an authentic leader Katie Womersley Director of Engineering, Buffer
2. The Paradox of Authenticity Just Be Yourself! Don’t put on a mask. 
 Be professional, and inspire confidence. @katie_womers
3. Solution? Full-on Gameface “I have no idea what I’m doing…
 And THEY KNOW.” @katie_womers
4. Stumbling upon ‘human moments' “Manager Gameface!” was not super helpful when two humans are trying to figure each other out @katie_womers
5. Demystifying the middle way The less that is implied or mysterious about you, the safer others will feel working with you, relying on you, and being open with you about themselves. @katie_womers
6. Getting Clarity What are you here for? Write your job description What do you stand for? Share your Manager Readme What is your leadership colour? Lead from your strengths @katie_womers
7. What is your job? @katie_womers
8. Manager ReadMe Leadership philosophy What you value and optimize for What should people know about you e.g. Answers to first 1-1 Questions Expectations What you expect of you direct reports & what they can expect from you
9. Fortune 500 CEOs Are predominantly white men who are 2. 5 inches taller than average Stereotypes & Authenticity Marginalized Groups Already know what is safe to experiment with @katie_womers
10. What Authenticity Means Your actions are in accordance with your values. What you do as a leader connects to who you are as a person, and to what this situation is calling for. 
 You present aspects of yourself selectively. @katie_womers
11. Leadership Colours @katie_womers https://larahogan.me/blog/leadership-style-colors/
12. @katie_womers Identify Your Default Most of your leadership is in this zone. Learn what Green, or Yellow, looks like on you. Practice the next closest colour different situations call for different styles.
13. You’re Not Alone @katie_womers
14. Resources See lots of other manager readmes, and get feedback on your own - https://managerreadme.com/ How and why I wrote my readme
 https://medium.com/@kawomersley/why-and-how-to-share-your- manager-readme-plus-heres-mine-8a4fe188ee1b Lara Hogan on Leadership Colours
 https://larahogan.me/blog/leadership-style-colors/ The Paradox of Authenticity 
 https://hbr.org/2015/01/the-authenticity-paradox 1 2 3 4 @katie_womers
15. @katie_womers katie@buffer.com Questions?