The Making of a Manager - by Julie Zhuo

Book Synopsis

Wall Street Journal Bestseller!

Congratulations, you're a manager!

After you pop the champagne, accept the shiny new title, and step into this thrilling next chapter of your career, the truth descends like a fog: You don't really know what you're doing

That's exactly how Julie Zhuo felt when she became a rookie manager at the age of twenty-five. She stared at a long list of challenges--from hiring to firing, from meeting to messaging, from planning to pitching--and faced a thousand questions and uncertainties. How was she supposed to spin teamwork into value? How could she be a good steward of her reports' careers? What was the secret to leading with confidence in new and unexpected situations?

Having now managed teams spanning tens of people to hundreds, Zhuo is ready to share the answers to all those questions, and more. The most important lesson of all? Great managers are made, not born. And if you're reading this book, you're already on your way to becoming a great manager.

In this revised and updated edition of The Making of a Manager, new managers will discover the transformative insights and practical examples that made the original an instant classic, along with essential new guidance for today's challenges--including how to build trust and maintain morale during downturns and layoffs, and how to foster culture and connection while managing remote teams.

Whether you're new to the job, a veteran leader, or looking to be promoted, this is the handbook you need to be the manager you've always wanted.

Review Quotes

Rated Amazon's #1 Best Business Book of the Year So Far!

"I've seen so many people thrust into management in high-growth companies with so little guidance. From now on, I will hand them this book. Its practical wisdom is immediately useful for the newly minted manager--and us old ones."
--Ev Williams, CEO of Medium and co-founder of Twitter

"Julie Zhuo had to learn to be a manager fast, as her role kept expanding in the hyper-growth environment of a successful Silicon Valley start-up. In The Making of a Manager, she shares what she learned--often, the hard way. She combines cutting-edge analysis of how organizations work with engaging and accessible examples of how theory plays out in real life, with stories of what she did right and wrong."
--Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project

"I wish I'd had this book when I started managing a team at Instagram. Julie covers the full range of becoming a manager, from your first meetings with your team to accomplishing huge goals together."
--Mike Krieger, co-founder of Instagram

"Every business book I read as a consultant and later a CEO was written by a man. Julie brings an entirely fresh perspective on leadership as a brilliant hacker, first-generation American, and young mother. This book is everything Silicon Valley appreciates in Julie: humble, inspiring, and whip-smart."
--Leila Janah, CEO and founder of Samasource and LXMI and author of Give Work

"At startups, individuals asked to manage are rarely set-up for success. Julie Zhuo gives new managers the tools they need to help their people and company win."
--Sam Altman, president of Y Combinator and co-chairman of OpenAI

"Are you a new manager? Are you a little scared? Fear not. Julie Zhuo is here to help. She took on a manager position at one of the biggest start-ups of our generation before she felt quite ready, but she grew into the job. And now she's here to guide you as you grow into the job. This book will get you on the right track and keep you there."
--Daniel H. Pink, author of When and Drive

"As an entrepreneur and CEO, I've read all of the business books, but this is one I'll be turning to again and again as a reference for how to help my team thrive. It's a leadership manifesto for a startup, global mega-company, or anything in between."
--Brit Morin, founder and CEO of Brit + Co

"Julie is like that friend giving you some much-needed tips over coffee--her style cuts through industry jargon and gets at the heart of how to lead with confidence and help your team do their best work."
--Nir Eyal, author of Hooked

"The Making of a Manager is an excellent, approachable and comprehensive guide for those making the transition into management. This is something we'd give out to new managers at Slack and it could very well set a new standard for new managers."
--Stewart Butterfield, CEO and co-founder of Slack

"Julie does an incredible job simplifying the role of a manager. She pulls you in with all the awkward, funny and tough moments of being a first time manager, and then takes you on an engaging journey. She sets forth a crystal clear playbook of how to drive impact and get the most out of your teams. If you're a first time manager, you'll learn how to hit the ground running, and experienced managers will level-up their game!"
--Logan Green, CEO and co-founder of Lyft

About the Author

Julie Zhuo is an entrepreneur and product executive known for shaping the digital experiences of billions worldwide. She founded Sundial with the mission of helping the world's most innovative companies make faster, better decisions with data. Previously during her 14-year journey from Facebook's first intern to vice president of product design, she spearheaded the development of iconic features for over two billion users. An active speaker and investor, Zhuo regularly writes about technology, design, and leadership on her popular blog The Looking Glass. She graduated with a computer science degree from Stanford University and lives in California with her husband and three children.