Manager’s Toolkit: Becoming a Confident Startup Leader

In startups, managers often step into leadership roles without training. They’re brilliant at their craft but suddenly responsible for leading people—a whole new challenge. Without guidance, this gap creates stress for managers and confusion for teams.

Manager Do’s and Don’ts

  • ✅ Do set clear expectations
  • ✅ Do run regular 1:1s to check in on goals and wellbeing
  • ✅ Do give constructive feedback consistently
  • ❌ Don’t avoid difficult conversations
  • ❌ Don’t micromanage—trust the team

Essential Skills for Startup Managers

  1. Communication – clarity beats charisma.
  2. Feedback – give it timely, make it actionable.
  3. Conflict Resolution – solve issues quickly to keep team focus.
  4. Goal Setting – use OKRs or SMART goals to align work with strategy.
  5. Coaching – help team members grow, don’t just direct tasks.

Practical Tools

  • A template for running effective 1:1s
  • A framework for feedback: Situation → Behavior → Impact → Next step
  • A simple structure for team meetings that motivate and align

Key takeaway: Great managers aren’t born—they’re built. With the right tools, any manager can become a confident leader.