This Google exec became a boss 'overnight' 20 years ago—the most important lesson he's learned as a manager

Related StoriesBrian Glaser became a first-time manager about 20 years ago when he says he was promoted "overnight" into a leadership position at JetBlue.He had a lot to learn as a boss and now, two decades later, is the chief learning officer at Google, where he oversees teams in charge of onboarding and training for some 150,000 employees worldwide.One of the biggest lessons he learned while moving from an individual contributor to overseeing others' work was "trusting others to get the work done," Glaser tells CNBC Make It."I remember so much of what gave me fulfillment was getting the job done right, really tackling the project, meeting the deadline, and knowing that I was single-handedly able to contribute to the goal," he says.Becoming a manager, though, he had to realize it wasn't about doing the work and getting credit for it. Rather, "it's about getting work done effectively through others, which means you have to really understand their styles or motivations and work to bring out the best so that they can really deliver excellent outcomes."He heard it put once that as an individual contributor, you're trying to make lightning strike; as a manager, you have to create the conditions for lightning to strike.Glaser says he's constantly working on the balancing act of setting long-term goals for his teams and charting the paths to achieve them.He's learned from his past mistakes: "I think where I've messed up over the years [is] I've indexed more on the vision and the future" rather than being concrete in the smaller steps and benchmarks to get there. Without that path, "It's very easy for the team to burn out."Glaser says bosses should keep three pillars in mind as they lead their teams:For anyone else leading a team for the first time, Glaser says "the most important thing" is to focus on building connections with your reports to understand "the experiences, the interests, the aspirations of your people."Doing so builds trust, he says, which is a foundational part of what makes a high-performing team and helps them move through challenges and ultimately succeed."If nothing else," Glaser says, "really invest time in getting to know your people, building those relationships, and all else will follow."Want to give your kids the ultimate advantage? You teach them to read and ride a bike, but often skip money management. Sign up for our new course, How to Raise Financially Smart Kids, and learn how to build healthy financial habits and prepare them for real-world milestones. Use coupon code EARLYBIRD for 30% off. Offer valid from Dec. 8-22, 2025. Terms apply.CNBC Select is editorially independent and may earn a commission from affiliate partners on links.Get Make It newsletters delivered to your inboxLearn more about the world of CNBC Make It© 2025 Versant Media, LLC.

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