5 Tips For First Time Managers
Congratulations! All those long working hours and hard work have finally paid off, and you have climbed the ladder to earn your first managerial role. This is the time for new responsibilities, new powers, and not to mention, new challenges. Although the chances are that you are already equipped with the skills needed to become a good manager, considering you were chosen to take up this responsibility. Here are ten tips that can be useful for you if you’re becoming a manager for the first time.
You’re Just As Good As Your Team
Gone are the days when only your personal performance could determine your success. As a manager, you only succeed if each and every member of your team does well. Your team’s performance curve is a clear indication of your ability as a manager. So, it’s essential to pull your team up and work on enhancing their skills. You must identify their strengths and weaknesses and leverage their strengths while working on their weaknesses.
Communicate With Your Team Effectively
Setting clear goals and realistic expectations is a critical part of leadership. It is crucial to communicate with your team and let them know what they need to deliver. As a manager, it is your responsibility to learn to explain the goal clearly. You need to know that your behavior will have a significant impact on your team’s motivation level. A few polite words of encouragement or a quick compliment can make someone’s day and make them respect you more. Similarly, praising a well-performing employee can show the rest of the team that you notice work hard and performance.
Accept That You Still Have A Lot To Learn
Humility goes a long way when you’re a leader. No one wants to work under someone who thinks too highly of themselves. Especially when you have been promoted from amongst your peers, it is essential to know that there’s still a lot you can learn from them. Just because you have been given a senior position does not mean there’s nothing your team can’t teach you.
Develop 1-on-1 Relationships
If you have been promoted from a particular position, the chances are that you already have a kind of bond with your former peers. It is a good idea to leverage this bond and establish a relationship with them even as their reporting manager. This includes being considerate towards their shortcomings and understanding their reasons.
Share Feedback and Credit
Often employees feel that their managers forget to share the credit. In fact, this is one of the most crucial performance manager success factors. As a manager, it is a good practice to share due credit with your team. This is a good way to motivate your peers and encourage them to perform better. At the same time, it is also important to share relevant feedback with your team to ensure that they are given a chance to identify their problem areas and work towards them.
All in all, being a first-time manager can seem like a daunting task. However, with the help of some guidance and tips, you can make a smooth transition. The entry-level managers program of Pearson allows organizations to inculcate leadership skills in their employees and prepare them for management roles.