Secrets to Being a Good Manager From Seriously Accomplished Women

If you've just hired your first assistant, or you're already managing a whole team, chances are you've at least looked at a management book to pull some practical advice. You know, things like, "Treat people the way you wanted to be treated," "Be fair but firm," and "Get there first in the morning." Sound familiar? I thought so. Great advice to keep in mind, but not exactly what you need to know to really make an impact.

That's why I loved this collection of advice that Fast Company culled from interviews with super-successful women whose careers anyone would admire and want to emulate (we're leaning in!). The life lessons are unexpected and surprising...and for that reason alone, you'll want to try them out. Here are a few of my favorites:
Keep It Real: Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO and author of Lean In
Since joining the company in 2008, Sandberg has been credited by Mark Zuckerberg as "my partner in running Facebook." Now a New York Times best-selling author to boot, Sandberg told Fast Company how the two keep the lines of communication open and are always straight shooters. "We give each other feedback every Friday. Remember that when I took the job, I was going to work for a 23-year-old with a $15 billion valuation."
Encourage Creativity: Jenna Lyons, J.Crew's executive creative director and president
Credited with revitalizing the J.Crew brand, the company head and one of 2012's Glamour Women of the Year honorees explains how to motivate creative types: "When someone creates something and puts it in front of you, that thing came from inside of them, and if you make them feel bad, it's going to be hard to fix, because you've actually crushed them. Managing creative people—not so easy. A lot of emotion, a lot of stroking. Some people need tough love. Some people need a lot of love."
The Power of Trust: Angela Ahrendts, Burberry CEO and soon-to-be Apple retail lead
No wonder Apple wants her: During her time at Burberry, Ahrendts oversaw an effort that doubled the company's sales. What's her secret to being a good manager? "Ninety percent of it is trust. There is an innate trust that I don't second-guess anything [creative director Christopher Bailey] does, never have. And on business, he doesn't second-guess anything I do. We've never been finance first. We've always been instincts first."
Read the full piece, including more advice from Yahoo head Marissa Mayer and new General Motors CEO Mary Barra on FastCompany.com.




source:www.glamour.com