In 2026, positive human interaction is a superpower. Here's what 40 years of managing, mentoring, and making mistakes has taught me.
It's April 2026, and there is a lot going on. People are starting families, seeking new adventures, changing careers, and applying what I've always called the "learn-it-all" philosophy — a term I borrowed from HubSpot's Brian Halligan back in 2017. It perfectly captures the mindset needed to live your best life today.
Lately, I've spent a significant amount of time teaching and mentoring young adults. Whether you're managing, selling to, or simply hanging out with Gen Z, these five reminders will make you a better leader. I've framed them for the younger workforce — but the truth is, they apply to everyone, from Boomers to Gen Alpha. (We'll give Gen Beta a pass for now; they're still in diapers.)
It took me 40 years to learn these lessons, and I'm still falling into the occasional pothole. Every business is a people business. Being a good people manager is hard, important, and deeply impactful.
1. Strive to be calm and unemotional
Simple to understand. Incredibly hard to execute. I'm working on this daily. In Q1 alone, I lost my cool a few times — and immediately felt my effectiveness drop each time.
My strategy: I avoid high-stakes meetings when I'm tired, especially late Friday afternoons. I walk into charged conversations with written notes to stay grounded. And I have a sticky note on my monitor that simply says: "Chill the F Out." It works.
2. Lead with questions, not answers
This started as a top sales technique, but it's actually a life skill. Instead of launching into a presentation to prove how smart you are — ask questions. Seek to understand someone's experience first, then tailor your response to the level that's actually needed.
Listening to how someone speaks is often more important than what they say. In the age of AI, if you haven't done meaningful research before a conversation, you're not prepared. I have dozens of conversations with investors, founders, board members, employees, and customers every week — and the more questions I ask, the smarter I sound.
3. Play "Inception"
Named after the Christopher Nolan film, this technique is about managing people for the long game. You don't have to win every point in one meeting. People generally don't want to be told what to do — they want to discover the right path themselves.
Define the goal and work backward, allowing the other person to "discover" the solution over time. When someone emotionally buys into an idea because they believe it was their own, you've achieved true behavior change.
4. Use data to support your point
In 2026, facts are the ultimate teaching tool. Instead of making it a "me vs. you" argument, anchor the conversation with a simple question: "What does the data say?"
Access to data is no longer a competitive advantage — it's table stakes for improving performance. Having a team member compile the numbers is itself a teaching moment. If they can't access the data due to governance restrictions, let them interpret it. It's non-confrontational, and it ensures you're both measuring what actually matters.
5. Suppress the urge to solve the problem yourself
This is a game-changer in the Tyre Mentorship Program. Modern managers don't give orders — they facilitate decisions. Next time a problem arises, ask: "What are your options for solving this?"
It helps people broaden their horizons and think in new ways. If they choose correctly, you celebrate their judgment. If they choose wrong, they've earned a first-hand lesson they'll never forget. Either way, they own the outcome.
Managers who master this technique tend to make a lasting impact on their teams and the people around them.
These five principles won't make you a perfect manager — nothing will. But they'll make you more self-aware, more effective, and more memorable to the people you lead. The learn-it-all mindset isn't about having all the answers. It's about staying curious, staying humble, and trusting that the people around you are capable of more than you think. That's a lesson worth carrying into every meeting, every tough conversation, and every pothole you stumble into along the way.
Want more like this? Sign up for the monthly newsletter and get insights, lessons, and community updates delivered straight to your inbox — before they hit anywhere else.