April 29, 2024
3 minute read
People managers are responsible for the well-being, productivity, and growth of their team members. They provide guidance and support, set expectations, and create a positive work environment. People managers also work with other departments to ensure that their team has the resources and support they need to be successful.
What People Managers Do
The day-to-day responsibilities of a people manager can vary depending on the size and structure of the organization. However, some common tasks include:
- Recruiting and hiring new team members
- Providing performance feedback and coaching
- Setting goals and expectations
- Creating a positive work environment
- Working with other departments to ensure that the team has the resources and support they need to be successful
How to Become a People Manager
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Find a path to becoming a People Manager. Learn more at:
OpenCourser.com/career/bk13e0/people
Reading list
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Through a compelling fable, this book illustrates the common behavioral pitfalls that prevent teams from succeeding: absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results. It provides a clear model and actionable steps to overcome these dysfunctions. This highly relevant book for understanding team dynamics in people management and is often used in team-building workshops.
Offers a framework for providing feedback and building strong relationships with direct reports based on caring personally and challenging directly. It's highly practical for contemporary people management, focusing on effective communication, guidance, and creating a feedback culture. It's particularly useful for deepening understanding of performance management and employee development.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the future of people management. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn about the latest trends in people management and how to prepare for the future of work.
This classic textbook provides a comprehensive overview of people management, covering topics such as hiring, training, motivation, and performance management. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn about the basics of people management.
This German-language book provides a comprehensive overview of people management, covering topics such as hiring, training, motivation, and performance management. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn about the basics of people management in German.
This Portuguese-language book provides a comprehensive overview of people management, covering topics such as hiring, training, motivation, and performance management. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn about the basics of people management in Portuguese.
Provides a comprehensive overview of people management, covering topics such as hiring, training, motivation, and performance management. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn about the latest research on people management.
Drawing on interviews with over 80,000 managers, this book identifies what top-performing managers do differently to build engaged and productive teams. It challenges conventional wisdom and provides practical insights into selecting, motivating, and developing employees based on their strengths. offers a practical approach to people management and is considered a must-read for new and experienced managers alike.
Based on research, this book explores the importance of vulnerability, courage, trust, and empathy in leadership. It provides actionable strategies for fostering brave cultures and developing daring leaders. is highly relevant to contemporary people management, emphasizing the human aspect of leadership and is valuable for personal development and understanding how to create an environment where people feel safe to contribute.
Considered a seminal work in the field, this book provides a comprehensive framework for understanding what organizational culture is, how it is formed, and how leaders can influence it. Culture profoundly impacts people management, shaping behaviors, values, and interactions within an organization. is essential for a deep understanding of the environmental context of people management and is often used as an academic text.
This seminal book introduced the concept of emotional intelligence and its critical role in personal and professional success. Understanding emotional intelligence is fundamental to effective people management, influencing leadership effectiveness, team dynamics, and interpersonal relationships in the workplace. It provides essential background knowledge for understanding human behavior in organizations.
Based on extensive research, this book explores the characteristics of companies that achieved sustained greatness. It delves into leadership styles, building the right team ('First Who, Then What'), and creating a culture of discipline, all highly relevant to people management at an organizational level. It's valuable for deepening understanding of how people contribute to organizational success and widely recognized business classic.
Building on 'Start With Why,' this book explores how creating a 'Circle of Safety' within an organization fosters trust and cooperation among team members, leading to stronger, more resilient teams. It emphasizes the responsibility of leaders to prioritize the well-being and security of their people. offers insights into building high-performing teams through a focus on psychological safety and empathy.
Challenges traditional ideas of motivation, arguing for the importance of autonomy, mastery, and purpose in driving performance and engagement. Understanding these intrinsic motivators is crucial for effective people management in a contemporary context. It provides a deeper understanding of what truly drives individuals and teams.
Introduces Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) as a powerful goal-setting framework used by successful organizations like Google and Intel. While focused on goal setting, it has significant implications for people management through aligning individual and team efforts with organizational goals, driving accountability, and measuring performance. It's valuable for understanding a contemporary approach to performance management.
Building on the concept of emotional intelligence, this book explores how leaders can create resonance and drive positive results by understanding and managing emotions in themselves and others. It delves into the practical application of emotional intelligence in leadership and people management, offering a deeper understanding of how leaders influence the emotional culture of a team or organization.
Written by a former Facebook VP, this book offers a practical and honest guide for new managers navigating the challenges of leading a team for the first time. It covers essential skills like giving feedback, running meetings, and building trust. is particularly useful for those new to people management roles and provides solid foundational knowledge.
Written by a former Navy submarine captain, this book presents a compelling case for a leader-leader model of leadership, emphasizing empowerment and decentralized decision-making. It offers valuable insights into building a highly engaged and effective team by giving control rather than taking control. It's relevant for contemporary approaches to leadership and people management focused on autonomy and ownership.
This popular book introduces the concept of the 'Golden Circle' and the importance of leaders inspiring action by starting with 'why.' Understanding and communicating the purpose behind work key aspect of motivating and engaging people in contemporary management. It provides a framework for inspirational leadership and its impact on teams.
Foundational text for anyone in a management or leadership role, offering timeless principles on effectiveness. While not solely focused on 'People Management,' it provides essential context on how effective managers operate and make decisions, which directly impacts their interactions with people. It's a classic considered a must-read for developing a broad understanding of the manager's role and is often referenced by professionals.
Written by Google's former head of People Operations, this book reveals the company's data-driven approach to HR and people management. It covers topics like hiring, performance management, and building a strong culture. It provides insights into contemporary practices at a leading tech company and is useful for understanding innovative approaches to people management.
The late Zappos CEO shares his company's journey and philosophy centered around customer service and a strong company culture focused on employee happiness. highlights the importance of culture in people management and its impact on business success. It offers a compelling case study in building a unique and effective workplace environment.
This foundational book outlines an eight-step process for successfully implementing change initiatives within organizations. People management is intrinsically linked to change management, as successful change requires leading and engaging people through transition. provides a solid framework for understanding the human side of organizational change, crucial for managers in dynamic environments.
The former Chief Talent Officer at Netflix shares insights into the company's unique and often counterintuitive approach to culture and talent management. It emphasizes high performance, freedom, and responsibility. offers a look into contemporary and unconventional people management practices, valuable for those looking to challenge traditional HR models.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/career/bk13e0/people