Great Managers Manage Themselves First

The etymology of "manager" traces back to early modern French manege, meaning to handle or train a horse. While amusing, this linguistic origin reveals an outdated paradigm: that management inherently involves controlling subordinates rather than developing mutual respect.

Dee Hock, Visa's founder, challenged conventional management wisdom by asking leaders about their primary responsibility. Most answered with downward-focused perspectives, which Hock considered fundamentally flawed. He advocated that managers should dedicate approximately half their time to self-management, including integrity, character, ethics, and temperament. Remarkably, Hock believed exceptional managers spend only 5% of their time directly managing subordinates.

Self-Observation in Six Steps

The framework draws from Martin Heidegger's concepts of transparency (habitual autopilot behavior) and breakdowns (unexpected disruptions). The process involves:

1. Notice breakdowns when expectations shatter
2. Identify emotional response (pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant)
3. Recognize interpretations and stories created about events
4. Acknowledge emotional reactions to those narratives
5. Choose conscious actions rather than habitual responses
6. Observe behavioral impact on yourself and others

The six-step model demonstrates how extended chains of perception, emotion, and behavior create consequences. Self-awareness enables leaders to interrupt destructive patterns before they damage relationships or outcomes.

Reads & Resources

Articles:

• What I Learned About People Who Scale - Pedro Franceschi discusses how high-growth environments demand constant personal evolution alongside organizational change.

Audio:

• Lex Fridman #294 - Tony Fadell - Explores product management philosophy and the collective responsibility for understanding customer value before development begins.

Books:

• The Art of Possibility - Co-authored by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander, featuring practical approaches to bold thinking.
• Wake Up to Your Life - Ken McLeod's framework on self-observation

Resources:

• Practical Typography - Matthew Butterick's guide to typography fundamentals for designers and founders