The Manager’s Compass
Welcome to The Manager’s Compass. This is where Leadership Cartography becomes practical. Each post helps you name what is happening, understand what it is signaling, and choose one next move that steadies your leadership.
We map the terrain. You choose the route.
New here? Take the Explorer and discover which terrain you navigate best.
Why Personality Tests Fail New Managers (And What Actually Works Instead)
Your team took the personality test. Now what? If you're staring at a spreadsheet of four-letter codes wondering how this helps you have better one-on-ones or address the tension between Sarah and Mike, you're not alone. Most managers get handed personality test results and expected to magically become better leaders. But here's what HR doesn't tell you: knowing someone is an "ENFP" or "High D" doesn't actually help you manage them. Learn why personality tests fail new managers—and discover the leadership framework that actually moves the needle
The Performance Review Playbook: How to Build Trust and Drive Growth in 60 Minutes
The calendar reminder appears: "Performance review with Sarah - Thursday, 3pm." Your stomach tightens—not because Sarah isn't performing well, but because you know how these conversations usually go. Stilted, formal, both of you counting minutes until it's over. But performance reviews can be different. They can become conversations your team actually looks forward to—moments that build trust instead of anxiety, clarity instead of confusion. The difference lies not in what you discuss, but in how you structure the conversation itself.
The Leadership Identity Crisis That's Destroying Organizations
There's a moment in every leader's journey when the ground shifts beneath them. When the skills that got them promoted suddenly feel inadequate for the complexity they're facing. This isn't a skills gap—it's an identity crisis. Organizations promote people for their technical competence, then wonder why they struggle when pressure builds. The missing question nobody's asking: What kind of leader are you becoming under pressure? Learn why half of new managers feel unprepared and how understanding leadership identity transforms everything.
How to Have Difficult Conversations with Employees: A 6-Step Framework for New Managers
Most managers avoid difficult conversations until they become impossible to ignore. Whether it’s addressing missed deadlines, performance issues, or team conflicts, these conversations feel heavy and unpredictable. But here’s what most leadership training gets wrong: difficult conversations aren’t about being tough—they’re about having a clear framework when the territory gets messy. Learn the 6-step method that transforms confrontations into productive dialogues.
Stop reacting to pressure. Start mapping your next move
Friction is a signal
What is the pressure telling you?
Every manager navigates a different terrain. Identifying your leadership style is the first step to reading the signals and finding your steady next move.
Clarity requires a map
Browse over 70 digital toolkits built for modern leadership challenges. From difficult conversation scripts to promotion readiness, find the exact map you need for your current terrain.
Practice leads to progress.
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