Heart of Management

Category: Motivating People

  • What’s My Real Contribution, Anyway?

    When I was a young engineer, I managed projects.

    I saw things happen.

    Concrete moved, structures rose, plans became reality.

    Every progress?

    I knew exactly where I made it happen.

    Then I got promoted.

    I started managing people.

    And suddenly…

    Everyone was doing the work.

    And me?

    I was just… talking about it.

    Reviewing. Coordinating. Calming. Pushing. Holding things together.

    And in the middle of all that –

    one small, stubborn question kept whispering:

    “What am I actually contributing?”

    “Is anything happening because of me?”

    Because let’s be honest –

    Managers don’t really do anything, right?

    We just… make things happen.

    And that hurt.

    For a while.

    I carried that question inside, quietly.

    Outside, I looked like a leader.

    Inside, I felt… replaceable.

    But over time, something shifted.

    Not because reality changed – but because my perspective did.

    I began to notice:

    The goals I had set – were the ones moving forward.

    The tone I brought – echoed through the team.

    The effort I invested – enabled everyone else’s effort.

    I didn’t do the work.

    But it happened – because of me.

    ⸻

    Management isn’t about ticking off tasks.

    It’s about setting direction, holding the space, and moving things forward.

    If you’ve ever asked yourself “What am I even worth here?” –

    just know: it means you’re a manager who feels.

    And not just performs.

  • About a decade ago – life pressed “Pause” on me.

    And not a small click.

    A long pause.

    I got sick.

    Badly.

    It was clear I’d need surgery.

    Complex. Long.

    Thirteen hours.

    When I woke up —

    I was hooked up to tubes.

    Machines.

    Getting treatments.

    I didn’t wake up like a fairy tale prince…

    More like a rough version of RoboCop on a bad day.

    But in the middle of all that?

    I felt in control.

    From the first moment I was awake —

    I felt I was in charge.

    Even though I wasn’t.

    Even though I had no strength.

    But something in me radiated presence.

    The atmosphere around me felt respectful.

    I felt authoritative — without effort.

    And then, on the fifth day,

    the head nurse came to me with an unusual request:

    “There’s a patient here.

    He’s afraid to go through the same surgery you had.

    Would you talk to him?

    Explain?”

    Imagine the scene:

    I can barely move.

    Tubes coming out of me in every direction…

    And she wants me

    to give someone else strength.

    So I talked to him.

    Explained.

    He went into surgery.

    And he made it.

    —

    But the truth?

    I wasn’t always like that.

    That sense of authority —

    so natural in that hospital room —

    didn’t come out of nowhere.

    It’s not some inborn trait.

    It’s not a “gift” you’re born with.

    It came from years of managing.

    Mistakes.

    Listening.

    Growth.

    Moments where I learned

    not just to manage —

    but to be present.

    —

    So if you’re thinking:

    “I’m not the authoritative type. That’s just not me…”

    Pause for a second.

    Authority isn’t about muscles.

    Or rank.

    It’s about the quiet you bring with you.

    And yes —

    it can be learned.

    Even when you’re hooked up

    to every monitor in the ward.

  • Leading by Example: Why Your Time Management Affects Everyone

    Post 8 and final in the series on Time Management for Managers

    Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored how to manage time—not to simply get more done, but to focus on what truly matters.

    We covered seven key principles:

    1. Distinguishing between important and urgent tasks.

    2. Delegating tasks effectively.

    3. Avoiding the trap of constantly reacting.

    4. Blocking time in your calendar.

    5. Understanding that time management is self-management.

    6. Setting smart boundaries.

    7. Leading by example—our final principle.

    My story:

    As a manager, I set a rule—once a week, everyone left early.

    And I made sure to follow it myself. Why? Because I knew that if I stayed late, my team would feel pressured to do the same.

    What difference did it make?

    • It freed them from the unspoken pressure to always stay late.

    • It legitimized work-life balance.

    • It created a culture of accountability for time.

    Years later, a manager who worked with me said:

    “Your example gave me the strength to be a leader who protects both my own well-being and my team’s.”

    The message is simple: Managing your time isn’t just for you—it influences everyone around you.

    How do you lead by example? Share your thoughts in the comments!

    Want practical tools to implement this? Download my free time management guide for managers + a series of bi-daily tips:

    📥 https://heartofmanagement.ravpage.co.il/free-guide

    Right now the guide is in Hebrew only.

    Thank you for being part of this series—now it’s your turn to lead the change!

  • Setting Boundaries: Why Managers Must Learn to Disconnect

    📌 Post 7 in the Time Management for Managers Series

    In management, there’s a hidden trap: the expectation to always be available—respond immediately, solve every issue, and keep a constant pulse on everything 24/7.

    The result? Work seeps into every free moment—at the expense of personal time, family, and the mental clarity needed for deep thinking.

    Why is this dangerous?

    • You get pulled into work late at night—leading to burnout.

    • Your brain never truly disconnects—reducing clarity and creativity.

    • Your team learns that constant availability is the norm—and everyone ends up exhausted.

    How to set smart boundaries?

    1️⃣ Define clear working hours – No emails at 2 AM.

    2️⃣ Block time in your calendar – Reserve slots for critical tasks and personal time. What’s not in your calendar won’t happen.

    3️⃣ Lead by example – When you maintain balance, your team learns it’s okay for them too.

    Want to turn this into a habit?

    I’ve created a free guide on time management for managers, packed with practical tools and a bi-daily tip series to help you apply them.

    📥 Download here: https://heartofmanagement.ravpage.co.il/free-guide

    Right now the guide is in Hebrew only.

    How do you set your boundaries as a manager? Share your thoughts in the comments!

  • Finding Time for What Truly Matters – How to Build Meaning into Your Schedule

    Post 6 in the Time Management for Managers series

    Managers often find themselves caught in a cycle of urgent tasks, endless meetings, and growing to-do lists. The result? They feel like they’re always busy but not necessarily productive.

    But here’s the real issue:

    • The way you spend your time defines the kind of leader you are.

    • If your time is consumed by daily firefighting, when will you focus on long-term impact?

    • If your calendar is full of others’ priorities, when will you prioritize your own growth?

    How to Make Time for What Truly Matters?

    In the Time Management Guide for Managers, I explain how to take control of your schedule, identify what truly matters, and structure your time so you can lead—not just react.

    Download the free guide here:

    (Currently, the guide is available in Hebrew only. If there’s enough interest, I’ll create an English version. If that interests you, let me know in the comments or via private message.)

  • “I Don’t Have Time to Think” – The Biggest Risk for Managers

    📌 Post 5 in the Time Management for Managers Series

    Management feels like an endless race of tasks, emails, meetings, and urgent issues… but wait, stop for a second—does this sound familiar?

    🤯 When was the last time you had time to truly think?

    Many managers realize that they’re so busy reacting to events that they can’t find time for strategic thinking, developing new ideas, or even just stepping back to see the bigger picture.

    🔹 The Problem:

    When every day is packed with tasks, meetings, and urgent issues that never stop…

    🚨 There’s no time to pause and think.

    🚨 There’s no time to plan ahead—so you just keep reacting day by day.

    🚨 Even decision-making becomes reactive—because there’s no time to consider better alternatives.

    📌 How do you break this cycle?

    In the Time Management Guide for Managers, I explain exactly how to carve out time for thinking, how to protect it so it doesn’t get swallowed by urgent tasks, and how to turn it into a regular habit—so you can manage instead of just reacting.

    📥 Download it here:

    https://heartofmanagement.ravpage.co.il/free-guide

    (Currently, the guide is available in Hebrew only. If enough people are interested, I’ll create an English version. If that interests you—let me know in the comments or send me a private message!)

  • Are You Working Hard – But Not Moving Forward?

    Post 3 in the Time Management for Managers Series

    Many managers I meet feel like they’re busy from morning to night – yet they’re not making real progress.

    They end their workday feeling like they didn’t accomplish what truly matters, even though they worked non-stop.

    The problem isn’t the number of hours – it’s how they’re managed.

    Time management isn’t just about getting more done; it’s about dedicating time to what truly drives progress.

    But that’s nearly impossible when your entire day is filled with small tasks, endless meetings, and firefighting.

    So, how do you break this cycle?

    📌 Effective managers don’t just work harder – they work smarter.

    To manage time instead of being managed by it, shift the question:

    Instead of asking, “How do I finish everything?” → Ask “What should I really be spending my time on?”

    A small change in mindset can have a massive impact on your entire day.

    For managers committed to improving their time management, I created a unique Time Management Guide for Managers:

    🔵 It’s not about generic productivity tips – it focuses on how managers should manage their time to lead, influence, and create real balance.

    🔵 It comes with a bi-daily tips series – designed to turn insights into practical habits.

    🔵 The guide is based on 30 years of hands-on management experience, leading thousands of employees, hundreds of managers, and major brands.

    📥 Download it here – Link in the first comment

    (Currently, the guide is available in Hebrew only. If there’s enough interest, I’ll create an English version. If this interests you – let me know in the comments or via DM!)

  • Time: Manage or Be Managed?

    📌 Post 2 in the Time Management for Managers Series

    Time management isn’t just about getting more done. It impacts all aspects of our work—our ability to lead, drive initiatives, maintain balance, and prevent burnout.

    Yet, many managers I meet feel they’re simply being managed by time—jumping from task to task, reacting to what’s urgent, putting out fires, and rarely pausing to ask: Am I investing my time in what truly matters?

    🔹 The Gap Between Managing and Being Managed

    A manager who truly controls their time doesn’t work harder—but smarter.

    They initiate, plan, delegate tasks effectively, prioritize clearly, and don’t let the urgent dictate their actions.

    In contrast, those who are managed by time react to events, operate in constant firefighting mode, and spend most of their time on the urgent—at the expense of the important.

    So, how do you break free from this reactive cycle and start managing your time—instead of being managed by it?

    📌 That’s why I created a Time Management Guide—specifically for managers.

    ✔ It focuses on time management for managers—not freelancers, employees, or self-employed individuals.

    ✔ It’s based on real-world experience—managing thousands of employees, hundreds of managers, and leading brands.

    ✔ It comes with a bi-daily tip series sent to those who download it—to turn insights into practical habits.

    📥 To download the Time Management Guide for Managers—click here

     Important!

    🚀 Currently, the guide is available in Hebrew only. If there’s enough interest, I’ll prepare an English version. If you’re interested—let me know in the comments or via private message!

  • Managing Time as a Leader

    Post 1 in the Management Time of Managers Series

    Over the years, I’ve met outstanding managers—talented, intelligent, and driven to lead, influence, and create meaningful success. But almost all of them struggled with the same recurring challenges:

    • Constant overload – as if there were never enough hours in the day.

    • Endless chase after urgent tasks – instead of focusing on what truly moves the needle.

    • Gap between work and personal life – the desire for balance is there, but in reality… it’s hard to achieve.

    • Feeling a lack of control over time – instead of managing, they feel managed by their schedule.

    🔹 The real issue isn’t just the number of tasks – it’s how managers manage time as leaders.

    Because time management for managers is fundamentally different from standard time management.

    A manager doesn’t just manage their own time – they also delegate tasks and responsibilities to others.

    Small mistakes in task allocation don’t just affect the manager – they create inefficiencies across the entire team.

    So how do you take control of your time instead of letting it control you?

    📌 Here’s the challenge:

    🔵 I wrote a free time management guide specifically for managers – it’s unique because it focuses not just on personal time management but also on delegating and managing the time of others.

    🔵 It comes with a bi-daily tip series – designed to turn insights into practical habits and ensure real-world application.

    🔵 The guide is based on 30 years of hands-on managerial experience – leading thousands of employees, hundreds of managers, and major brands.

    📥 Download the guides here → 

    Important

    (Currently, the guide is available in Hebrew only. If enough people show interest, I’ll create an English version. If that’s something you’d like, comment below or message me!) 

  • Sustaining and Growing Meaning: Concluding and Continuing Your Leadership Journey

    The sixth and final post in the series on finding meaning in your managerial role.

    Managing with meaning isn’t a destination—it’s an ongoing journey. Throughout this series, we’ve explored discovery, learning, and practical application. In this final post, we’ll provide a brief recap of the steps we’ve covered and offer tools to help you sustain and expand your sense of meaning moving forward.

    Series Recap: Key Steps in Your Journey

    1. Discovering Your Inner Motivation:

    We started by identifying the core values and purpose that drive you in your role.

    2. Recognizing Your Moments of Significance:

    You learned how to pinpoint the moments, big and small, where you felt most meaningful and connected to your work.

    3. Turning Insights Into Daily Actions:

    We explored how to translate your discoveries into small, consistent actions that align with your values and goals.

    4. Identifying Where Your Impact Is Strongest:

    By asking the right questions, you learned to focus on the areas where your efforts create the most value.

    5. Turning Challenges Into Opportunities:

    We examined how to view difficulties as opportunities for growth, connection, and creating new meaning.

    Moving Forward: A Continuous Process of Growth and Reflection

    1. Pause for Regular Reflection:

    Every few months, take time to ask yourself: Am I still connected to my values? Does the meaning I’ve found still align with my role?

    2. Explore New Areas for Impact:

    Roles evolve, teams grow, and so do you. Look for new opportunities to create value and meaning in your changing environment.

    3. Share Your Journey With Others:

    Your sense of meaning can empower those around you. Sharing your values and purpose with your team can foster a more meaningful organizational culture.

    4. Celebrate Small Wins:

    Daily successes matter. Take time to acknowledge and appreciate them—they’ll keep you grounded and connected to what you do.

    To Summarize the Post

    This series was designed to give you tools and insights to embark on your journey as a leader with meaning. It’s a personal process, one that evolves with you and the challenges you face along the way.

    Remember: The meaning you find in your role is a powerful engine for growth—not just for you, but for your team, your organization, and everyone around you.

    Thank you for being part of this journey. Now, it’s time to continue and take action!