Managers of one are key to high performing teams

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I’ve noticed something about the top performing people at work. They tend to need the least direction and thrive on trust and freedom instead of hierarchy and bureaucracy.

I call these people “managers of one”. It’s a term I discovered in an excellent article by the Basecamp team.

What does a manager of one do exactly? They simply do what any manager would do!

They figure out what needs to get done. They think about what the next steps are. They assign items. They make sure it actually gets done and contribute action and energy.

Here’s the key: A manager of one is able to do these things BY themselves and FOR themselves.

“When you leave them alone, they surprise you with how much they’ve gotten done. They don’t need a lot of handholding or supervision.” - Basecamp

This is huge for two reasons...

ACTION - Teams need a critical mass of people with a bias toward action. Without that they spin their wheels.

STRATEGY - Managers that don’t need to micromanage are free to do strategic work which benefits everyone.

This way of hiring is autocatalytic because it changes the team environment. Each extra manager of one adds positive momentum to your flywheel. If you want high performing teams, fill them with managers of one.