Summary
In this conversation, Ross Saunders and Mark Leslie Lefebvre explore the complexities and responsibilities of management. They discuss the importance of empathy, understanding team dynamics, and the significance of hiring for mindset and attitude. Mark shares his insights on nurturing talent and the importance of building a cohesive team culture. The discussion emphasizes that while management can be daunting, it is also rewarding when approached with care and connection.

Takeaways

• Management is about responsibility for the well-being of the team.
• Empathy is crucial in leadership roles.
• Understanding the humanity of team members enhances management effectiveness.
• Hiring for mindset and attitude is as important as skills.
• Building a cohesive team requires open communication and connection.
• Nurturing talent involves preparing them for future roles.
• Transparency in decision-making fosters trust within the team.
• Management should not be a solitary endeavor; collaboration is key.
• Creating a supportive team culture can alleviate management fears.
• Connections between people are fundamental to successful management.

About Mark:
Mark’s first short story appeared in print in 1992, the same year he started working in the book industry.

He has published more than twenty-five books under the name Mark Leslie that include thrillers and fiction (Evasion, A Canadian Werewolf in New York, One Hand Screaming), paranormal non-fiction (Haunted Hospitals, Spooky Sudbury, Tomes of Terror) and anthologies (Campus Chills, Tesseracts Sixteen, Obsessions). Under his full name he writes books to help authors navigate publishing. And they include The 7 P’s of Publishing Success and An Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores.

His industry experience includes President of the Canadian Booksellers Association, Board Member of BookNet Canada, Director of Author Relations and Self-Publishing for Rakuten Kobo, Director of Business Development for Draft2Digital and Professional Advisor for Sheridan College’s Creative Writing and Publishing Honours Program.

www.markleslie.ca

About your host, Ross:

Ross started his management career by being promoted from technical specialist to manager of a global team. This was not an easy transition at first but it blossomed into an exciting management career spanning over a decade in corporate and enterprise software environments. Ross has managed development teams, technical teams, call centres, and entire software divisions across several countries.

Intro music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/vacation-beat

License code: WM2CBDQ0C2W0JGBW

Outro music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/vacation-beat

License code: WM2CBDQ0C2W0JGBW

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