The Manager's Moment
Managers are people too. They occupy their own unique spot in this world, which influences how they navigate work. One story at a time, managers bring to life moments they encounter to help us understand what it means, and takes, to be a manager. And what legacy can look like.
In each episode, a guest shares their story, and how micro and major moments they experience along the way changed them. We explore themes that weave through their working lives, how they came to be the professional they are and what this means to them.
I'm Belinda Brummer, the host, and for over two decades as a HR and talent development professional, I’ve witnessed what it takes to show up as an effective and impactful manager. Through these conversations, my goal is, to at all times, keep my - and your - gaze on the person. And in so doing, keep people at the centre of all of our experience and understanding.
The Manager's Moment, seeing the person in this, and every moment.
The Manager's Moment
End-of-Season Reflection, with Belinda Brummer
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We've come to the end of season one of The Manager's Moments. I wanted to take a few minutes to:
- reflect on my own journey with this podcast,
- reflect on two things I observed that emerged through the course of the conversations guests have had with me in this season and
- let you know about my plans for season two - and even a brand new podcast I'm collaborating on, launching imminently.
Follow this show so that you don't miss out on the launch of Season 2. And follow me on Linkedin so that you have the latest news on the new podcast.
Join the conversation and make connections by joining The Manager's Moment Club on Linkedin. And connect with me, Belinda Brummer, there too. For bonus bits, show notes and episode transcripts, click here.
We've reached the end of Season One of The Manager's Moment. Let that sink in. I'm still processing it myself.
Back in November 2023, I embarked on a journey to create a podcast. I was a complete novice in audio content creation. Thanks to Patrick Haughey of Audiobrand and the ‘Create a podcast’ Learning Waves Skillnet program, I was challenged to release two episodes and a trailer by February 2024.
I love being a novice. I'm a learning nerd and a shiny-new-thing junkie. Creating a podcast was 100% new to me. Sure, I'd created digital media content before, but this was different. I was on my own, facing unfamiliar territory - audio waves, capturing and editing sound, using new software. Luckily, I'm quick to learn new tech, which made the mountain a bit less daunting to climb.
But a podcast is more than just good audio. I had to envision it and then deliver it:
- What would it be about?
- Why was I doing this?
- Who would listen?
- Who would be generous enough to be a guest?
- What format would work best?
- How would I deliver on that format?
- How would I organize everything on a shoestring budget?
- How would I brand and distribute it globally?
Figuring it all out has been a journey I loved. I acquired new skills, becoming proficient through practice, feedback, reflection, and complete immersion. The conversations with my guests were incredible, teaching me something new each time I revisited them during editing and even while listening on the bus or out walking.
I'm thrilled with the feedback from my guests about their experience. Special thanks to Manoesjka, my first guest and dear friend. She let me experiment freely, enduring more recordings than I care to mention. Every guest after her benefited from what I learned with her. Over time, I found my stride, became more efficient, and grew slightly more proficient at producing an episode.
The Manager's Moment isn't over. I'm planning Seasons 2 and 3, and I'm collaborating on a new podcast focusing on managers, leaders, and the workplace. This new show has a very different format, and its launch is imminent. Stay tuned - follow me on LinkedIn for updates.
Before wrapping up Season 1, I want to share some observations:
1. Managers are people too. We're all on the management spectrum, whether managing or being managed. Everyone has their own story, hopes, fears, dreams, and challenges. Seeing the person in every moment is crucial for effective leadership. Some of the best managers I've worked with do this instinctively or through practice. Only when you truly see and consider the person in their context can you show up as the leader they need.
Life happens - even during our podcast production, guests faced layoffs, grief, illnesses, and emergencies. We even had an episode that couldn't be released due to recording quality issues caused by damage to an undersea internet cable in Africa. These experiences underscore that managers are indeed people too and we are all just trying to live our best lives.
2. Every guest recalled someone who took a chance on them, championed them, or had a pivotal conversation with them. These relationships seeded legacies. From Damien's father to Violet mentoring Brenda and launching her career in Production Management, from Brandi's unexpected opportunity with a VP to Mike's accidental mentor later in his career - these stories highlight the power of championing others.
Brenda put it well when she said she considers herself extremely lucky. She observed that there are good people who work hard all their lives and don't get breaks, while she got breaks when she needed them. This made me reflect: How can I be the person who champions others so that luck - or circumstances of birth - plays less of a role in success?
I'm still exploring what makes a great manager. In fact, I was recently a guest on another podcast where I was asked this question. I declined to answer because that's exactly what I've been exploring with my guests. I'm still not prepared to fully answer it, which leads us to Season 2.
You might have noticed many Season 1 guests are connected to a company called Electric Paper. While they've all moved on to work in diverse contexts across different cultures, there is a similarity in their origin story – most have their roots in an Irish upbringing. This raised questions for me: In our globalised, multicultural work ecosystem, is managing people truly the same everywhere? Are people just people, regardless of where they originate from? Is effective management homogenous?
That's why Season 2's theme will be about "Managers without Borders." We'll talk with leaders managing in varied cultural contexts or in contexts that are different from their own origins. We'll likely skirt the edges of bias, stereotypes, and generalities as our brains try to simplify the complexity of humanity. But by hearing about the experiences of those navigating - and helping others navigate - this complexity, we'll hopefully emerge wiser, with a more expansive understanding of how to see the person no matter the context or complexity.
Thank you to all my Season 1 guests for your time, generosity, and trust: Manoesjka, Danielle, Emmet, Mike, Brenda, Damien, Mick, Meena, Brandi, Tracy, and Colum. Your stories have allowed us all to learn and grow.
If you have guest recommendations for Season 2, please reach out. Contact details are in the show notes, or find me on LinkedIn - I'm still the only Belinda Brummer there.
This is Belinda Brummer, signing off on Season 1 of The Manager's Moment.
The Manager’s Moment: Seeing the person in this, and every moment.
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