When I first started managing, I thought it was all about making decisions and setting direction. But over time, I realized the more important part is learning to listen, to let go, and to give others the space to grow. Building trust and psychological safety is easy to overlook, but it’s the thing most worth practicing again and again.
I've heard management (and a skill I've learned to appreciate from leadership) is "creating alignment" amongst a group of people. Would you say that is different from setting direction?
Second question, if you don't set direction, what's the contrast/alternative?
I think “setting direction” is more about offering a goal or vision, while “creating alignment” means helping the team genuinely buy into that direction. Without alignment, even a clear direction is hard to execute.
If you don’t directly set the direction, you can still guide the team toward one through questions, listening, and open discussions. It may take more time, but people often feel more invested that way.
