10 Tips For First Time Managers

Being a first-time manager comes with many challenges. Those without proper basic management training and understanding of the job are often seen slacking in their responsibilities within a month of assuming the position. Whether you are functioning in the position of a general manager, a middle manager, or a frontline manager, the skills and expertise required for the transition are quite different from those required of a regular staff member. For a manager who is transitioning from working in a team to leading and building that team, the transition can be even much more difficult. 

Top Tips to Implement as a First Time Manager 

It is regularly said that people do not leave jobs, rather they leave managers. The ability to not only increase the productivity of the company but also retain employees is a necessary responsibility for new managers.

While many companies are beginning to recognize the difficulty of this role and are trying to provide performance management training programs to help new managers, more still needs to be done. Below are ten tips new managers should consider adopting to help them succeed in their new position. 

Develop a Growth Mindset 

• The expectations for new managers are usually very high, and they only have one opportunity to make a great impression. The first step to handling these expectations is to have a positive mental shift.
• Developing a growth mindset rather than a fixed one will allow you to learn the new skills necessary for good leadership. Believe not just in your ability to grow, but also in that of your entire team.

Employ the Services of a Professional Coach

As a new manager, you need to identify your goals and align them with those of your company for a more attainable vision. Professional coaching helps you in setting these objectives. By creating a healthy coaching platform, coaches ensure that managers maximize their skills and become the best version of themselves within and outside the workplace.

Focus on Building a Healthy Work Environment

For a new manager to successfully lead his or her team, they first need to build a healthy relationship with each team member. One way to do this is to begin by identifying each of your team members by their names.

It would be impossible to create a high-performing team when there is constant conflict between you and your team members. Create an environment where there is respect for each other, understanding, and effective communication.

Delegate Responsibilities 

As a manager, one of your primary roles is team building, and this cannot be achieved if you insist on doing everything yourself. Assign responsibilities to staff members, and hold them accountable for the success or failure of these responsibilities.

Give Timely Feedback 

Do not just ask for feedback, but also remember to always offer timely feedback to employees who request it, in order not to cause unnecessary delays with upcoming projects. Implementing this will increase the productivity of workers, which will further enhance the company’s progress.

Encourage Smart Collaboration 

Encourage collaboration among team members as well as between organizations. While smart partnerships with other companies will help move yours forward, grouping team members will yield valuable peer support.

Develop Soft Skills 

As a manager, your ability to show empathy, display emotional intelligence, efficiently communicate, listen to team members, and resolve conflicts is highly important. Develop these soft skills by consistently practicing them.

Appreciate Progress 

People stay where they are appreciated. Cultivate the habit of recognizing the little wins of your staff members; let them know that you see and appreciate their efforts. 

Create a Reminder Calendar 

As a manager, there are lots of things to do, and as a human being, you are bound to forget. Creating a calendar that reminds you of the essential stuff will save you a lot of stress.

Accept Changed Relationships 

If you are transitioning from within the same company, this means that you have already established relationships with staff members. As a new manager, it is necessary to find a balance to avoid conflict. Learn to make and take smart decisions without letting your judgment gets clouded by personal relationships.

Conclusion

From learning new technical and conceptual skills to figuring out a way to develop non-toxic relationships with other employees, the entire process for new managers can be very overwhelming. However, the suggested tips above will help you make a successful transition and maintain high performance.

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