1) They take the blame
↳Take the hits in public – never let them take the fall alone
↳Ex: Say “That was my call” on a missed target in a leadership meeting
2) They protect time off
↳Protect their vacations – no guilt trips, no interruptions
↳Ex: Say “I’ll handle anything urgent” and mean it when someone goes on leave
3) They stop disrespect
↳Don’t allow clients or senior leaders to speak down to your people
↳Ex: Follow up with a client who yelled and say, “We expect mutual respect on both sides”
4) They push back on scope creep
↳Say no when requests pile up and threaten burnout
↳Ex: Tell the client, “That’s outside the original agreement – let’s discuss a change order”
5) They translate chaos
↳Translate unclear or shifting strategies into clear plans
↳Ex: Turn a rambling leadership email into a one-page action plan for the team
6) They fight for fair pay
↳Advocate for the raises, promotions, and bonuses they earn
↳Ex: Push for someone’s promotion months early after they took on major responsibilities
7) They cancel pointless meetings
↳Block the ones that waste their time and add no value
↳Ex: Decline a standing weekly meeting with no major action items and send a summary email instead
8) They confront toxic behavior
↳Step in early – even when the offender is a high performer
↳Ex: Call out a top seller (in private) who belittles other people
9) They reject unrealistic deadlines
↳Push back when the timeline is impossible or harmful
↳Ex: Tell leadership, “If you want this done by Friday, we need to cut features or add resources”
10) They explain decisions
↳Explain the why, not just the what, behind big changes
↳Ex: Say, “I fought to keep this project, but we lost budget – here’s what that means”
11) They block office politics
↳Shield them from drama and blame games
↳Ex: Defend a team member from unfair criticism by saying, “They’re following my direction”
12) They ask what people need
↳Ask what they need – and act like their answer matters
↳Ex: After a tough sprint, ask “What would make next week better?” – then make it happen
Too many bad managers say, “I’ve got your back.”
But when it really matters, their team is left exposed.
Great managers don’t just support their teams when it’s easy.
They show up when it’s hard, uncomfortable, and inconvenient.
Be that leader.
Your team will be unstoppable.
Kenrick Vaz 