Books The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You Book by Julie Zhuo

The Making of a Manager is a practical and accessible guide for new and aspiring managers. Drawing on her own transformative journey from entry-level designer to Vice President of Product Design at Facebook, Julie Zhuo demystifies the art and science of management with relatable anecdotes, clear frameworks, and actionable tips. The book is designed to help readers lead with confidence, empathy, and effectiveness—regardless of experience level or industry.

Core Principles

Julie Zhuo identifies management as a role focused not on doing all the work, but on empowering a team to achieve outcomes that surpass what any individual could do alone. She distills the manager’s job into three main levers:

“Your role as a manager is not to do the work yourself, even if you are the best at it… Your role is to improve the purpose, people, and process of your team to get as high a multiplier effect on your collective outcome as you can.”

Key Lessons and Themes

1. Management is a Learnable Skill

Great managers are made, not born—and the transition can feel daunting at first.

Humility, curiosity, and self-reflection are essential; mistakes are part of the journey.

Empathy allows managers to truly understand team members and unlock their full potential.

2. The Big Three: Purpose, People, Process

Purpose: Inspire your team with a clear vision and shared goals. Teams thrive when everyone understands the “why” behind their work.

People: Invest the majority of your energy in nurturing talent, fostering trust, providing feedback, and supporting growth. Effective managers coach more than they dictate.

Process: Well-designed processes (from meetings to feedback loops) enable predictable progress and healthy culture.

3. Do I Want to Be a Manager?

It’s crucial to assess whether management is the right path, as the role involves emotional labor, frequent meetings, and holding responsibility for others’ growth and well-being—not just personal achievement.

4. Building Trust and Credibility

Leadership depends on influence, not authority; trust must be earned by consistently demonstrating competence, integrity, and care.

5. Feedback and Difficult Conversations

Deliver clear, actionable feedback early and often—combine candor with compassion.

Handle conflicts directly to maintain respect and psychological safety.

6. Continuous Learning and Adaptability

Every team and challenge is unique. Stay open to feedback, iterate on approaches, and seek out diverse perspectives to improve.

Why Read This Book?

Real-world guidance: Zhuo offers practical examples, questions, and exercises drawn from years at a top tech company, making the book broadly relevant.

Inclusive, honest style: Written as a “warm hug” for new managers, the tone is supportive and empowering.

Immediate application: Whether hiring, running meetings, delegating, or having hard conversations, readers can apply Zhuo’s frameworks right away.

In Summary

The Making of a Manager is a user-friendly field manual for anyone navigating the transition to management or seeking to refine their leadership approach. Focusing on the three fundamentals—purpose, people, and process—it provides clear, trustworthy guidance for building high-impact, motivated teams and growing as a leader.

Select references: Ali Abdaal summary, 15 Minute Business Books, Runn Blog, Fellow, Readingraphics, Target.

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