Lessons I learned from becoming a manager and how to choose your next book

Lessons I learned from becoming a manager and how to choose your next book

Becoming a manager can be a challenging transition. Suddenly, my responsibilities shifted from focusing on the product to focusing on the people. This was a significant change for me, as I was used to being solely responsible for the success of a project. However, I quickly realized that giving my team slightly more freedom than they and I were comfortable with was beneficial. Empowering my team allowed them to take ownership of their work and resulted in better outcomes.

One of the biggest challenges I faced as a manager was the change in the feedback loop. As an individual contributor, I would receive feedback on my work within days or even hours. However, as a manager, it takes months to see the results of anything I might do. This made it difficult to measure my own value and impact. But I learned that as a manager, my focus should be on building a culture that leads to the best products. Celebrating every win, no matter how small, became crucial in maintaining my motivation and sense of accomplishment.

Managing people can be a lonely experience. The relationships I had with my colleagues changed, and I often felt isolated. To combat this, I made an effort to find my peers and celebrate wins together. Connecting with others in similar roles allowed me to share experiences, gain insights, and feel supported. Building a network of fellow managers became invaluable in navigating the challenges of leadership.

Now, let's shift our focus to choosing our next book. With an overwhelming amount of information available, it's important to filter out the noise and find high-quality content. One approach is to apply the Lindy Effect, which suggests that older ideas and books have a higher chance of being relevant and insightful. Books that have stood the test of time and are still applicable today are likely to provide valuable knowledge.

To improve our Reading Return on Invested Time (RROIT), it is essential to carefully filter the books we read. Instead of constantly seeking new knowledge, we should focus on understanding the basics deeply. It may sound boring, but understanding simple ideas builds a solid foundation for complex concepts. Those who grasp the basics are better at understanding second and subsequent order consequences. They can predict what matters and make more informed decisions.

The Lindy Effect also teaches us that time can predict value. While perishable items and humans have a decreasing life expectancy, non-perishable things like books actually increase in value with each passing day. The longer a book has been around, the longer we can expect it to remain relevant and insightful. Older books are not just better, but exponentially better.

In conclusion, becoming a manager taught me the importance of empowering my team, celebrating wins together, and finding support from peers. Choosing the right books to read involves filtering out the noise and focusing on the basics. The Lindy Effect reminds us that older books have a higher chance of providing lasting knowledge. So, take a simple idea seriously, understand the basics deeply, and seek out timeless books to expand your knowledge and make better decisions.