Ideas are best when shared — this one first surfaced on October 19, 2025
5-minute read. It's worth the coffee break
Every manager remembers that moment - the first time someone calls you their boss.
It’s exciting. It’s terrifying. And it usually comes with little to no instruction.
Most of us learn leadership through trial by fire. We absorb fragments of advice, mimic the best (and worst) leaders we’ve had, and figure it out as we go. Over time, we pick up systems and habits that work - but they often live only in our heads.
That’s where the idea for the Manager Starter Kit began.
I built this kit not because I had everything figured out, but because I needed a place to organize what I’d learned - and to share it with others who were figuring it out, too.
Over the years, I’ve mentored dozens of new managers - people who were great at their craft but suddenly responsible for people, performance, and potential. They’d ask the same questions I used to ask myself:
The Manager Starter Kit was my answer - a simple, practical framework that pulls all those lessons into one place. It’s not theory or corporate jargon. It’s a collection of proven tools, reflection prompts, and thought-provoking guidance you can actually use.
And to be honest, building it was a mirror moment for me.
As I wrote, I caught myself thinking, “Do I always practice what I preach?” There were areas I needed to revisit - habits I’d let drift or systems I’d outgrown. Creating this kit made me a better leader, too.
Kickstart your leadership journey with ready-to-use templates, meeting agendas, and conversation guides that make managing people simpler and more effective from day one.
This section is all about making one-on-ones the most important hour of your week.
You’ll find guidance on how to structure meaningful conversations, prepare in advance, and avoid turning them into glorified status updates.
You’ll learn how to use the “Know, Feel, Do” framework - asking yourself before every one-on-one:
Because great one-on-ones don’t just fill time - they build trust, momentum, and accountability.
Most people think feedback is about fixing mistakes. It’s not - it’s about helping people grow.
In this section, you’ll learn how to use the Behavior, Examples, and Impact model - a simple yet powerful way to make feedback actionable. You’ll see how to transform awkward conversations into genuine moments of connection.
The truth is, feedback is caring out loud. It’s how you show that you believe in someone’s potential enough to tell them the truth.
Delegation isn’t about passing the buck - it’s about passing opportunity.
You’ll learn how to reframe delegation as a growth mechanism, not a burden. This section includes questions to ask yourself before assigning work, guardrails to set when handing something off, and ways to help your team succeed (even if they fail the first time).
Because when you delegate well, you multiply your impact - and theirs.
Culture isn’t what you say on a slide deck - it’s how your team behaves when you’re not in the room.
This section helps you design that environment intentionally: how to align on shared goals, rebuild broken trust, and create rituals that foster belonging and accountability.
You’ll also find ideas for creating diverse thinking teams - people who bring different perspectives, challenge respectfully, and make each other better.
Leadership isn’t a position. It’s a practice.
This section closes with reminders to stay grounded: daily habits, reflection prompts, and a simple truth - you don’t become a great leader overnight. You become one through repetition, reflection, and care.
It’s your cue to slow down, look inward, and lead with intention - because consistency, not perfection, defines your legacy.
I made this kit for every manager who’s ever thought, “I wish someone had told me this sooner.”
It’s not about adding more to your plate. It’s about bringing clarity and calm to the chaos of leadership - so you can focus on what really matters: helping people grow.
And yes, it’s completely free. There’s a simple gated download page - you’ll enter your email, and the kit will be yours. You’ll also join a community of leaders who care deeply about getting this right.
You don’t have to go in order.
Start with what’s hardest for you - maybe that’s delegation, maybe feedback, maybe one-on-ones.
Print the note cards, highlight what resonates, tape the reminders near your desk. Revisit them when leadership feels heavy. This kit isn’t meant to sit on your desktop - it’s meant to live with you as you lead.
I don’t believe leadership is about control. I believe it’s about connection.
And the most impactful managers I’ve ever known weren’t the smartest in the room - they were the most intentional.
That’s what I want this kit to give you:
A way to slow down, think deeply, and lead with empathy - without losing your edge.
If it helps you, I’d love to hear about it.
Email me at contact@chacepeckham.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.
Tell me what’s working. Tell me what you’re still figuring out. We’ll grow together.
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