I've realized management can be a thankless job.
When I was an individual contributor, personal recognition was really important to me.
Whenever I did something good, I wanted to be recognized for it.
Very simple.
But all that changed once I got into management.
I’ve realized that sometimes, in management, you won’t get the recognition.
And sometimes, it becomes a thankless job.
Mainly because you’re the one dealing with the problems, and you need to give the recognition, not receive it.
But being in management, there’s a special feeling that being an individual contributor just can’t give you.
And this makes the “thankless” part worth it.
Here's what I mean...
Sometimes your effort to fix something, or help one of your direct reports, won’t get recognized on the main stage.
Instead, you help them. They run with it. They find success. And they receive the credit. They're pretty much like a king.
At first, this sucked. Not being directly recognized.
But then I realized something very important…
I’m not a king anymore.
I’m a kingmaker.
A king gets recognized upfront by colleagues and friends.
A kingmaker doesn’t always get recognized publicly, but the person they helped carries a deep respect and appreciation for them.
A kingmaker is the one behind the scenes, propping everyone up.
They’re the ones who build kings.
They may not get the same recognition kings get…
But they get something better.
They get to watch someone else win because of the foundation they built.
And that quiet pride?
That’s powerful.
-Alif