✅ Today's Checklist: 

• Successfully transitioning to a manager
• Joanna shares how to have productive exec mtgs
• Recipe of the week: Spaghetti Squash with Bacon, Spinach, Goat Cheese

🤔 Trivia: The iconic fall fruit, the pumpkin, is often used in pies, but it's botanically classified as something unexpected. What type of fruit is a pumpkin? Find out.

Upcoming Webinar: Don't miss Traliant's webinar, "The Inclusivity Journey: Overcome barriers and transform culture," on Tues 11/19 at 2 PM ET. Discover where your organization stands on its journey through five stages of inclusivity. Learn how to transform challenges into stepping stones for progress. Earn SHRM/HRCI credit. Register for the webinar here.

❤️‍🔥 An expert-backed guide to practicing safe hair-pulling during sex.

💸 The IRS just announced new 2025 tax brackets—here's what you need to know.

💼 Tips on how to get your small business funded and off the ground.

📧 Master email etiquette: How to ask for things and actually get a response.

 

Transitioning from an individual contributor to a manager can be both exhilarating and daunting. As you take on a new leadership role, understanding how to navigate this shift effectively becomes crucial.

Redefine Your Role and Responsibilities
One of the most significant changes you'll face is the shift in your day-to-day responsibilities. As an individual contributor, your focus was primarily on your own work and deliverables. Now, as a manager, your primary role is to support and guide your team to success. This means you'll need to:

1. Delegate tasks effectively and trust your team to deliver quality work.
2. Provide clear direction and set expectations for your team members.
3. Shift your focus from doing the work yourself to enabling others to do their best work.

Develop Your Leadership Skills
Becoming a successful manager requires a new set of skills. While technical expertise is still valuable, your focus should now be on developing your leadership abilities. This includes:

1. Communicating effectively with your team, both individually and as a group.
2. Providing constructive feedback and recognition to help your team grow and improve.
3. Leading by example and modeling the behavior and work ethic you expect from your team.
4. Being approachable and creating an environment where your team feels comfortable coming to you with questions, concerns, or ideas.

Invest in Your Team's Growth and Development
As a manager, one of your key responsibilities is to support the growth and development of your team members. This means:

1. Taking the time to understand each team member's strengths, weaknesses, and career goals.
2. Providing opportunities for learning and professional development, such as training, workshops, or mentoring.
3. Encouraging open communication and creating a safe space for your team to share their thoughts and ideas.
4. Regularly checking in with your team members to discuss their progress, provide feedback, and offer support.

Manage Your Time and Priorities
Transitioning to a managerial role often means taking on additional responsibilities and juggling competing priorities. To be effective, you'll need to:

1. Learn to manage your time efficiently and prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency.
2. Set realistic goals and deadlines for yourself and your team.
3. Regularly review and adjust your priorities as needed to ensure you're focusing on the most critical tasks and projects.

Seek Support and Mentorship
Finally, remember that you don't have to navigate this transition alone. Seek out support and guidance from:

1. Your own manager or other senior leaders in your organization.
2. Peers who have successfully made the transition from individual contributor to manager.
3. Professional networks, such as industry groups or online communities, where you can connect with other managers and learn from their experiences.
4. Mentors who can provide guidance, advice, and support as you grow into your new role.

Making the transition from individual contributor to manager is a significant milestone in your career.

Remember, your success as a manager is directly tied to the success of your team. By focusing on their growth and development, you'll not only help them reach their full potential, but also create a positive and productive work environment for everyone.

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GroupTogether helps create a meaningful card for your coworker (complete with thoughtful messages and pictures from the team), and it only takes 5 mins to set up. 

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Try GroupTogether today.

Executive meetings: love 'em or dread 'em, they're essential. After trying (and failing) to get a ton done in two meetings a week, our team slimmed down to one focused session—and it's made all the difference. Here's what's worked for us:

1. Less Meetings, More Impact

We cut down from two meetings a week to one. This single, intentional session brought more clarity and follow-through. Tip: Swap multiple meetings for one solid session to boost productivity.

2. A Shared Agenda to Stay on Track

Our shared agenda is a living document where everyone adds topics beforehand. By the time we meet, we know what's coming and are prepared to dive in. Tip: Have team members submit agenda items the day before so you can hit the ground running.

3. Focus on What's Off-Track First

We prioritize what's off-track first. Starting with blockers means everyone's energy is on problem-solving. We keep wins short but celebratory to start on a positive note before tackling the tough stuff. Tip: Use meeting time to address real-time decisions, not task lists.

4. Prep Financials and Metrics Beforehand

Nothing stalls a meeting like incomplete data. We update our quarterly goals, financials, and performance metrics ahead of time so our discussions stay high-level. Tip: Prep data beforehand to free up time for real strategy.

5. Keep it Strategic and High-Level

Our exec meetings are reserved for big-picture goals, not granular details. We leave the micro-updates to other touchpoints, so this time is truly about aligning on company-wide strategy. Tip: Assign someone to gently steer back if the conversation drifts.

6. Reflect and Tweak Regularly

We do quarterly check-ins on our meeting flow to make adjustments as needed. Even small tweaks can make a big difference.

With these tips, executive meetings go from box-checking to meaningful, strategic sessions. A single, focused meeting with a shared agenda, prepared data, and time for wins makes all the difference.

Joanna (TA Co-Founder)

Do your eyes roll when you hear "team building"? The Escape Game will change that. Forget the forced bonding and awkward icebreakers—your team will dive into mind-bending puzzles and immersive themed rooms that make collaboration feel like an adventure. It's team building, but with adrenaline, excitement, and actual fun.

With 45+ locations, it's perfect for corporate events, group outings, or just a memorable team hangout. Plus, every location is near top restaurants, making it easy to pair your escape with a team lunch or dinner.

Prefer to go virtual? The Escape Game's Remote Adventures bring the same excitement online, with a live Game Guide leading your team through the experience on Zoom.

Don't settle for boring. Take your team on an adventure they'll actually enjoy.

Have a recipe you love? Share it here.

🗓️ Join us this Thurs 11/14 at 11am PT/2pm ET for holiday gifting tips that'll help you wrap it all up in a day.

🦃 Elevate your Thanksgiving gatherings with this stunning charcuterie board perfect for displaying all your favorite apps.

💼 Simplify payroll and benefits with Paychex—it's like having an HR team in your pocket!

❄️ Enjoy refreshing drinks all year round with the compact pebble ice maker.

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