Episode
How New Managers Can Push Back Without Burning Bridges
- Podcast
- New Manager Conversations with Fexingo: First 90 Days, Managing Former Peers, and Leadership Basics
- Published
- Jun 15, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 485
- Processing state
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Summary
Episode 53 of New Manager Conversations tackles one of the hardest transitions: learning to say no to your own boss. Lucas and Luna break down a real scenario from a first-time manager at a midsize SaaS company who had to push back on an unrealistic deadline from her VP without damaging the relationship. They walk through the exact three-part framework she used: acknowledge the objective, share the constraint, offer an alternative. Plus they discuss why most new managers swing between compliance and defiance, and how to find the productive middle. Lucas cites research from a 2023 Harvard Business Review study on managerial assertiveness, and Luna shares a personal story about a manufacturing plant manager who learned to push back diplomatically. This episode is packed with specific language you can adapt for your next one-on-one with your boss. No fluff, no theory—just a practical playbook for new leaders who want to protect their team's capacity while still being seen as a team player. #NewManager #First90Days #Leadership #CareerAdvice #ManagingUp #PushBack #Assertiveness #Boundaries #SaaS #HBR #Communication #SayNo #TeamManagement #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #NewManagerConversations #LucasAndLuna Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo