Meet the all-new Thandi!

Hello friends!

You've been eagerly awaiting this, and the results are finally here.

Time to meet the all-new Thandi – lead character of our Scary Management Comic Book! Thanks to your votes, we're bringing her to life, complete with her favorite picks and personal style.

Comic, what comic?

Before we get to Thandi, here's a quick overview of the comic book we are developing:

This comic is my way of making learning about management more practical, fun, and engaging. It’s packed with conversations and stories (and memes!) from my real-life experiences building teams at multiple companies, multiple times.

I bring it to life through two main characters—Thandi, a new manager, and Anand, her mentor. They grow and learn together, facing the challenges of leadership, just like you might, in your current role.

So, if you are a new manager battling it out in the corporate or startup jungle, this comic will surely resonate, with lessons and insights you can actually use for success with your teams.

If you are a seasoned manager, you are probably looking to give back to those under your wing, and also continue your journey into executive management. I am still on that journey, and more to be shared on that as well.

So, good reasons to keep following along and get the Comic Book when it launches.

For now, let’s go meet Thandi!

Thandi’s Look and Name!

You chose Thandi's look, and "Option A" won by a landslide. We’re giving Thandi a fresh style, with a surname that resonates. Some of you liked "Newton" (like a movie star), while others went for "Dlamini”, but the ultimately, “Khumalo” came out tops.

Thandi’s Favourites:

• Coffee Brand: It’s Starbucks and Woolworths for Thandi! Though she was never big on coffee, Anand seems to consider it an essential part of management, and she's warming up to it.

• Sportswear Brand: Thandi loves the confidence of Converse and the comfort of Nike for her gym and sportswear apparel.

• Football Team: Supporting Kaizer Chiefs – her father was a lifelong fan, and she grew up watching games with him, which sparked her love for the team and its legacy.

• Fast Food: Chicken Licken is her go-to, with a dash of Chesa Nyama when she’s feeling adventurous.

• Watch Brand & Car Brand: Her Apple Watch and Michael Kors keeps her on time, and a Mini Cooper gets her where she needs to be in style.

• Favorite Color: She loves Red – although this doesn’t necessarily speak to her personality profile colors of Green and Blue. Who doesn’t love a lady in red?

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Thandi’s Career Profile

Career Journey: Thandi is a highly regarded senior software developer in her early 30s at a large corporate in South Africa. She is transitioning from a team leader role to the acting manager of another team (the Sharks) —a group known for its dysfunction and low morale. Her journey is one of personal growth as she navigates challenges of turning this team around while avoiding the mistakes of past managers who had failed with this team. Thandi is determined to learn about management and make a meaningful impact in her new role.

Organogram: Thandi has moved from an individual contributor to manager (Management vs Specialist career track). She’s demonstrated competence as a team lead and now has the opportunity to have greater impact as a manager. Just her luck, she’s got Anand, who is quite excited about coaching and mentoring her as a way of giving back, by growing the next generation of leaders.

That’s it for today friends!

Hope you enjoyed meeting the all-new Thandi!

Get to know her better as we continue on our comic journey.

I will start to feature Anand and Thandi into the memes in upcoming newsletters.

She’s quite an interesting character - brains, looks and ambition.

Look out her “Easter-Egg” lifestyle tips that might drop in!

Stay tuned, and see you next week! ☕️ 

PS: A Bonus exclusive for Newsletter readers:

Thandi’s Personality Profile!

I’ve done a bit of personality profiling with Thandi, and thought I’d share the details with you. Are you paying attention to these details with your team members?

1. Key Traits

• Empathetic and Supportive: Thandi's high agreeableness makes her attuned to her team members' needs, creating a harmonious environment. (Big Five Model, DISC - Green)

• Introspective and Reflective: As an INFJ, she often engages in deep thought, aiding her understanding of complex interpersonal dynamics. (MBTI)

• Analytical and Open-Minded: She embraces new ideas, employing analytical thinking to solve problems effectively. (DISC - Blue)

• Conflict-Avoidant and Self-Doubting: Thandi struggles with anxiety and avoiding confrontation, but her journey is about overcoming these challenges.  (INFJ, DISC - Blue)

2. Motivations & Goals Her core goal in the comic is to successfully lead the Sharks team, improve their performance, and prove her capabilities as a leader. Thandi's character reflects the struggles of many new managers, making her both relatable and inspiring.

3. Conflicts

• Internal Conflict: Thandi grapples with self-doubt and fears of replicating past management mistakes.

• External Conflict: She must lead a dysfunctional team with low morale, transforming them into a high-performing unit.

4. Relationships

• Werner (Scrum Master): Werner challenges Thandi’s empathy with his assertive, process-oriented approach, pushing her to find a balance between compassion and discipline.

• Team Members: Thandi fosters individual relationships through support and understanding, but her reluctance to enforce accountability can lead to her kindness being taken advantage of.

5. Strengths and Weaknesses

• Strengths:

  • Emotional Intelligence: Thandi's ability to connect on a personal level builds strong team cohesion.

  • Ethical Leadership: Guided by a strong moral compass, she makes principled decisions that earn her respect.

  • Collaborative Approach: She values team input, promoting a sense of ownership and engagement among members.

  • Adaptability: Her openness allows her to embrace new ideas and adapt to changing circumstances.

• Weaknesses:

  • Indecisiveness: Prolonged deliberation can delay critical decisions, impacting team performance.

  • Conflict Avoidance: Her reluctance to address issues head-on can allow problems to fester.

  • Self-Doubt: Her sensitivity to criticism can undermine her confidence and authority.

  • Overemphasis on Harmony: Prioritizing team harmony over results can lead to complacency.

6. Key Takeaways for Thandi and Managers Thandi’s journey is about balancing empathy with effective leadership. New managers can relate to her struggles and find inspiration in her growth as she learns to assert herself, make decisive actions, and lead her team towards success.

Once again, thanks soooo much for reading friend, and hope you enjoyed this. Look out for the next weekly newsletter, and more comic updates coming soon!