A Simple Habit That Made Me a Better Manager

A Simple Habit That Made Me a Better Manager

About 15 years ago, a manager gave me a piece of advice that has stayed with me ever since:

👉 "Keep a list of what your managers do—both what you like and what you don't. Then use it to shape your own leadership style."

It sounded simple. Almost too simple.

But it turned out to be one of the most impactful habits in my career.

Over the years, I've continuously updated that list—adding, removing, and refining it as I've grown into different roles. It's become both a guide and a mirror:

  • A guide for how I want to lead
  • A mirror for where I can improve

At first glance, many of the principles seem obvious. But in practice, consistently applying them is where the real challenge lies.

A Small Example: The Cost of Being Late

Take something as basic as punctuality.

I've always been on time. Naturally, I assumed others would be too—especially in a professional environment. I was wrong.

In a typical 10-person meeting where 2 people are late by 5 minutes, you're not losing 5 minutes—you're losing 45 minutes of collective time.

Now multiply that across a week of meetings.

That's not just inefficiency—it's a cultural signal.

In my teams, we made a simple shift: meetings start on time.

At first, it took adjustment. But over time, everyone adapted.

It's a small discipline that builds respect, accountability, and momentum.

My Personal Management Principles

Here's a refined version of the list I've built over the years:

âś… Do:

  • Trust your team and give them ownership
  • Communicate clearly and transparently
  • Be consistent—keep your word
  • Lead by example
  • Recognize and celebrate others' contributions
  • Address issues early and directly
  • Listen actively—seek to understand
  • Encourage feedback and different perspectives
  • Focus on solutions, not just problems
  • Support growth through coaching and training
  • Stay humble—ask for help when needed
  • Create an environment where people can do their best work
  • Be on time

đźš« Don't:

  • Micromanage
  • Play favourites
  • Avoid difficult conversations
  • Take credit for others' work
  • Make promises you can't keep
  • React emotionally or lose your temper
  • Assume—verify facts
  • Work in silos or ignore input
  • Undermine trust through inconsistency
  • Expect unsustainable workloads from your team

The full un-edited version can be found below

Final Thought

There's no perfect formula for management.

But being intentional—observing, reflecting, and adjusting—goes a long way.

This list isn't static. It evolves as I do.

If you're a manager (or aspiring to be one), I highly recommend starting your own version.

👉 What would you add to this list?

My crude version below, that I keep updating as needed: