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Jade Wilson's avatar

I love everything you write 😭 it's such a great article and one I think so important.

Hold yourself accountable even if others don't.

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Irina Stanescu's avatar

Jade with the sweet comments strikes again! ❤️😭 Thank you for being so supportive and happy to hear this article resonated.

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Venkat's avatar

Such a lovely insightful article! So relatable to apply and practice! Thanks Irina for this writeup!

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Derek Pharr's avatar

This whole post is really well put together. When a manager knows they can trust a person on staff the whole game changes. They give them bigger projects and more responsibility. This is a great guidebook to getting to that trustworthy stage.

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Irina Stanescu's avatar

100%. This is the path to bigger projects and responsibility! When you show you can apply these principles to yourself, you're trusted that you can do it to others as well.

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Brie Ransom's avatar

Self-management skills are so great, and I've always been appreciative of folks on my team(s) that have them or at least a desire to learn them.

It's also very useful if you ever find yourself lacking a good manager.

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Josh Angelucci's avatar

Thank you Irina for the great content and the book recommendations 🙂

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Jake Rutter's avatar

I saved this in my bookmarks to read later as I was intrigued by the title of the post and also the name of the substack. I've struggled with this area in a remote workplace with a manager who is not empathetic.

Skill #4 resonated the most with me -> Emotional self-management, being that cheerleader for yourself. My mother brought me up that when you are having a good or bad day, to talk it out over a cup of tea, so that's what I've always tried to do. With my previous manager, we would meet regularly (back when I worked in an office) and I'd make a cup of tea and he would allow me to be open and he'd coach me.

In absence of that, I've been using my Journal to self-talk myself off the ledge or use it to celebrate the small wins. This has been helpful, but I will be sure to check out the book that you suggested!

Thanks for the supremely detailed post, you are doing great - keep them coming, as they are helping people :)

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Irina Stanescu's avatar

Thank you for sharing your story Jake! I can totally relate, and have also struggled with leaders who weren't empathetic.

It takes a whole lifetime to achieve emotional self-mastery, don't be fooled by those who seem like they always have it together. And don't forget that not all brains are not wired the same, we don't all have the same emotional needs. We have to find what's best for us. I'm glad you found tools like journaling to help you manage. I also go to therapy and it's been a game changer.

When I wrote this article I didn't know which skills would feel the most challenging for folks, but after getting feedback it seems that #3 and #4 are worth zooming into a bit more, so stay tuned for follow up articles.

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Bryant Huỳnh's avatar

Thanks Irina for great content, as a Software Engineer, I found this so practical and useful

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ozioma ene's avatar

I thoroughly enjoyed it. A very insightful read that I can comeback to for strategic Carrer management

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Daniela's avatar

Sound advice, thank you! I loved the distinction between 'tactical' and 'strategic' input, it just goes to show how you need to go to the next level if you want to advance in your career.

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Ivan Ojiambo's avatar

Thank you Irina for sharing this, this was very insightful to me.

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