In my first few years of management, I did not put two and two together that the primary function of a manager is to develop their people.

If I were to go back in time and give my 22 year old self advice on how to be the best manager and the leader people would want to work for, I would tell her these 3 things:

1. Care Deeply

2. Hold a High Bar

3. Focus on Strengths

The stories we tell ourselves are so powerful. We all have an inner critic and an inner advocate. This simple question has enabled me to turn the volume up on my inner advocate and turn down my inner critic.