INTRODUCTION

Ancora imparo. (Yet, I am learning.)*

—MICHELANGELO

Jennifer materialized in the doorway of my brand-new office without a sound. I nearly jumped when I looked up and saw her standing there. Her pursed lips struggled to keep her face from spilling the emotion that was clearly damned up. It wasn’t good. It was my first week as a manager—my first week having an office with walls and a door that closed, not to mention a big window and a fancy Herman Miller chair.

What did I do? Thoughts of self-doubt welled up in me. I had been promoted to lead the team that I had been a member of just days earlier. She’s probably upset they chose me, or she thinks I don’t deserve it, that I’m too young, too inexperienced. Could she be right? I’m only ...

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