The middle manager of the future: more coaching, less commanding. Six keys to career success.
Welcome to a new issue of the newsletter, “Journal of discoveries.”
Each week, I check a list of hundreds of sources of inspiration to spot exciting articles, videos, podcasts, and books on personal development, leadership, management, technology, and innovation.
While this newsletter will remain a free resource, you might consider becoming a paid subscriber to support my work, and get access to my searchable Notion database. Thanks!
And now, let’s dive in!
One “must” for this week
Think AI is killing middle management? This Harvard study reveals a completely different story.
"The middle manager of the future: more coaching, less commanding" by Lethian Zang.
Middle managers aren’t going extinct. They’re evolving.
Managing others is being redefined in an increasingly complex, technologically driven economy, suggests new research, and managers who can collaborate—not just supervise and discipline—are getting the rewards.
Organizations want managers to act “less as Army commanders and more as basketball coaches,” to support more autonomous, creative workers. “The manager’s job is less to tell what to do, but more to inspire. I think it’s just a smaller piece of a larger, grander transformation in organizations.” says Lethian.
Personal development
In search of ‘Psychological ‘Richness’
Sales psychology: why you make terrible buying choices
Parkinson's law: it's real, so use it
A strategic thinker’s workout: try this daily mental fitness routine
The best book recommendations by Alex & Books
Innovation
Emerging tech trend report
What is agentic AI, and how will it change work?
Jailbreaking research on AI
AI pioneer Mustafa Suleyman shares his vision for the future of AI
The AI trap
How to develop your unfair advantage story
Tech trends 2025
Leadership and management
The middle manager of the future: more coaching, less commanding
Zombie leadership: dead ideas that still walk among us
Are you the cause of your team’s change fatigue?
Leadership: humility and focusing on others
Great managers show, not just tell
The power of small acts of inclusion
New managers: you don’t need to know it all
One book
“Hell yeah or no” by Derek Sivers.
See you next Saturday,
Roberto
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