04-09-2026IMPACT COUNCIL

9 leaders on what they’d change about managing staff

Rethink your existing narratives to determine what will work better.

[Photo: Getty Images]

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of top leaders and experts who pay dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership, and more.

BY Fast Company Impact Council

Leadership and management lessons aren’t always figured out off the bat. Making some mistakes and realizing that what works for you doesn’t work for everyone else is valuable. It’s impossible to go back and change the past, but you can think through how you manage now and see if it’s still effective. We asked our Fast Company Impact Council members about their staff management lessons and how their approach has evolved. Their insights can help you lead your staff better without having to make those same mistakes yourself. Here’s what nine Impact Council members shared—hard earned pearls of wisdom.

Earlier in my career, I sometimes moved so quickly that I didn’t always pause to clearly define what success looked like for my team. When people don’t have clarity on objectives and KPIs, it can lead to wasted effort and frustration. Taking the time to align on goals not only empowers people to do their best work, it also reduces the need to micromanage and builds a much healthier team culture. I’ve also learned that constructive criticism should be balanced with encouragement and recognition. — Muneer Panjwani, Engage for Good

I would have delegated earlier and with more trust—not just........

© Fast Company