In the middle of another week of back-to-back meetings and realized I barely had time to do my actual job. As a manager, I’m constantly in reactive mode. I’m proud to show up for my people, but I’ve also let three professional development goals slip this quarter. I want to grow, but it feels like there’s no time left for me. How do you all carve out space for your own development while juggling everything else?

likehelpful
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

It’s easy to deprioritize your own growth when your team needs you, but sustainable leadership means making space for both. I’ve started blocking two hours a week on my calendar for development—and defending that time like I would any other high-priority meeting. Small steps, but they add up.

like

Oh! I appreciate you sharing this. Gives us permission.

The old expression is I work myself out of my job. You can’t always do it “this quarter”, but over time the goal is to develop the people in your team so that you can delegate parts of your job to people in your team.

Maybe you do a task with them so that the next time they can do it for you before submitting it.

And then over time their capabilities improve, and you get more time to do more things for your boss, as well as more time to do things for you.

Plus your people feel they’ve developed and get an increased network or increased visibility. And you’ll get a reputation for being a great manager who empowers and enables their team!

Related Posts

My long term mentor was just diagnosed with cancer and is at the hospital recovering from surgery. What can I send him to show genuine care and appreciation for everything he has done for me? Age ~50

like

Hello my lovely IBM colleagues 👋🏻👋🏻

What is the process of getting the shift allowance??

Do we just need to clock in our hours in Workday and Time@IBM?

Or is there any other step to be completed?

like

Any single F in Edison, NJ up for a casual coffee date and hanging out maybe ( since everyone here seems to be married, wtf🤬 ).
I’m a single M 27, Interested in movies and road trips. 🚘

funny

What’s an average salary for a PM in NYC, 3-4 years experience.

like

You know what, I’ve had no luck so far so I’ll go ahead and try this.

My name is Michael Smith, but I go by Mikey J. I’ve been looking for work in the digital marketing and media field for a couple of months now to no avail.

Here is my resume. Take a look. Maybe someone knows of someone who is looking for my experience and can connect us. Maybe you’re the one looking. Either way, thanks in advance!

Post Photo
like

Start up experience help! How much do you charge for taking on the entire UX of a startup companies’ app design?
Would you take a set amount of money or equity? Any experience here would help!

like

Hello Folks,

I am working in a mnc company, It's initial phase of my life I am 25 but I made a huge mistake that I started working in stock market when I was 22 and I lost the whole capital I earned in 3 years which I around 7 lac rupees and Found myself completely devasted and alone.
Now I am working on 13 LPA but I don't know how to accept the defeat and move on. I am completely stuck in the situation and Full with regrets also lost my whole self believe n confidence in life to do some. good.

like

Hi JPMorgan Chase

I got mid year promotion to a 601 level. What can I expect in terms of hike and bonus in the year end?

like

At my law firm, only senior associates and partners go to court and take depositions. Is this normal for a big/vault law firm?

like

Advice for interviewing at Greenberg Traurig, or big law in general?

like

Is anyone annoyed that accolades has oddball pricing like 106 for a gift card and you need to pay $10 for 10 points. You can’t just get 6 points?

likesmart

Has anyone interviewed with syneos commercial advisory?

like

What package can I expect from KPMG GS for the IT Advisory Consultant role?

Current CTC: 8.3 LPA
Experience: 4.5 yrs

like

Hi Fishes,

What is salary pay scale for CANADA on-site from people-TECH Hyderabad.

Role : Senior software engineer
Salary : 27L.

Thanks to everyone

like

Once you’ve applied via referral link to a position, does it keep you in a referral pool or do you need to constantly get a new referral link if you apply to another role say 4 months later? Curious since they only last 30 days and i feel bad asking for a link a 3rd time now…..

like

I have been trying to get into Gartner for quite sometime, but I am not able to crack it. Anyone willing to help with the skills required or roles that I should target based on my Skillset? Gartner

Current Skillset and role: Financial analyst (MBA Finance)
Skills: financial data analysis, dashboard preparation, data integrity checks, etc.

Ms Excel, powerpoint, SQL, Jira, Powerpoint, secondary research

like

How do y’all calculate a contract job? Speaking to someone that is hiring a producer from Aug-May. Not sure how I calculate my rate for such a long period of time??

like

I have total experience of 46 months in IT and have relevant experience as A BA. Can any one refer me. I am looking to switch .my current CTC is 9.8 lakh. How much I should look for after switching. ?

like

Anybody who temporarily relocated to Canada to renew their visa? How long did you have to wait there before coming back?

like

Additional Posts in People Managers

You're a new manager with direct reports. One of your directs is very determined. You consider yourself a good manager so you want to help them grow. They are killing it and taking on an enormous of workload, and executing flawlessly. Do you let them continue killing it? Ask how they're doing? Or warn/advise them on how to avoid burnout?

like

Anyone have suggestions on a team building exercise or consultant/coaching to build/improve energy. I feel 2020 was such a big drain on everyone’s energy and spirit just looking for ways to start the year out on a more positive note. TIA

like

Hi! Any career coaches who offer a full support throughout job search?

-Experience: 8 years of project/program management and/or communication
-Companies of interest: Google, Microsoft, Facebook
-Location: Washington DC or VA

A report opened to me that they are having money problems and wants a raise. We are remote and they moved to a high CoL city. We gave an increase to help with retention 6mths ago. In my response, I helped mentor with best practices on how to ask for a raise professionally since I need to make a case to my Head on finances. But their performance has been avg and not seemingly worthy of another large raise within a short period of time. But how do I respond when they talk about personal finances?

like

Looking for info about the engineering culture at Netflix from the perspective of someone who identifies as a woman or non-binary person and is also a person of color. Do you feel safe and included? Would also love some input from someone in a leadership position, do you feel supported as a leader?

like

I got into Management a year ago and now I miss developing. How do software engineers turned managers feel about their switch over to people management?

What was your salary as a first time manager (and where were you based)?

like

Hi. People Manager here. I've been one for 12 years now and I encourage my team to not be "yes" people. At this time, it feels like my manager wants me and my team to be yes people for her. How do I deal with this? I've never been a yes person and I don't preach this to my reports. I don't know what to do. Help?

We interviewed a great candidate, extended a verbal offer and she accepted. We sent the written offer a few days ago but she hasn’t opened it or accepted (it’s expiring tomorrow). Have you ever had to follow up? How did you handle it? My company is small with no HR, so I have to handle the hiring myself.

Newer manager here (18 moths). Recent org announcements and hiring holds have put major stress on my team. Some are hyper focused on all the bad, how do I get buy-in that this is temporary and we still have a job to do? I feel it’s more important than ever to show value vs being task takers.

like

Any books suggestions?

like

What is your toughest challenge hiring someone in their early 20’s?
For lots of different reasons I get the impression that younger people aren’t equipped for the employer, employee relationship.

like

For the past 25+ years, I've been a devops engineer, cloud architect and team lead on many projects. I would like to make a career move into IT Management (i.e. DevOps Manager, Director of Cloud Ops, etc.). When it comes to skills needed, what should my focus be on and how would that translate onto a resume? I would love to still be hands-on to utilize my tech knowledge.

like

One of my top talents just put in his two weeks notice and I had nothing to offer him to stay. I told upper management this was going to happen! I’ve spent months asking for a promotion for him, trying to push his career forward and got no traction. I know i did my best. He knows i tried. I still believe i work at a good place but i feel like we’re losing focus. I feel my boss is leaving soon. It’s a mess.

like

Looking to apply for a manager role in my CS team. Any tips for the interview?

4 years of CS experience, no management experience

Whats your biggest challenge as a manager?

What do you enjoy most?

How do you manage your friends/people who used to be in your team?

Any interview tips appreciated! Last time failed the interview cause did not show a proper action plan. Find it tough as I do not know what challenges my manager has

like

It feels very telling that there are so few people in this group. Any thoughts on that? It feels like the vast majority of people managers only want the title and don’t want to worry about their people.

likesmart

Does anyone else just not even want to be a people manager anymore?! The amount of work this is taking, I’m just so over it. In addition to them piling on my work (which is a full time job) the people management stuff is just as much a full time job that no one in management seems to take into account. I have tried countless times to explain this but I end up burnt out, everyone suffers including me. I just left one role bc of it and now this new role, same thing. I’m over it.

like

I’m a manager and one of my direct reports makes more than me. It really bothers me. Anyone else been in this situation before? What’s the best way to handle it?

like

I have a direct report who is smart, passionate about her job and can be really innovative. However she carries this enormous weight of responsibility, for needing to do everything, do it right, make sure it's perfect, not trusting colleagues to help. It creates dread and panic and overwhelming workload and a terrible attitude for her and I am speaking with her this week to start to shift her mindset. Any tips in navigating how to let go of this heavy idea of "responsibility"?

likehelpful

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal