Congratulations — you’ve successfully climbed the ladder and are now a manager.
Now what?
This is a scary and exciting time in your career. You have more power than ever to effect change in your organization, but you certainly don’t want to blow this fantastic opportunity you’ve earned.
So, what’s the best way to survive being a first-time manager? Here’s a few top tips from fellow first-timers to guide you through these first frightening months.
Don’t Forget About Your Team
Yes, you’ve scored a big win for your own career. A promotion is definitely something to be celebrated, and you’ve earned a little time to bask in your victory.
However, don’t spend too much time navel gazing. One good rule of thumb when you make the leap to management is to quickly connect with your team members to ensure you’re all on the same page.
It’s a good idea to schedule a meeting with each individual to find out what challenges they face, discuss what they want out of their positions and what motivates them. While this kind of meeting might seem slightly frivolous at face value, investing a little time to better understand your team can help everyone out in the long run.
Take the Time to Learn Your Business
When you first move into your management position, it may be tempting to make plenty of changes. But avoid moving too fast too soon. Instead, spend the first few months of your tenure observing and analyzing your team and your organization as it currently functions. Makes notes of inefficient processes or problems you observe throughout this period.
It’s integral to get a better sense of the big business picture with your organization. Every company is its own animal. When you’ve done your thorough analysis and are ready to make changes to the business, try to make them incrementally to provide your team with some continuity.
Give Others a Leg Up
Someone gave you a chance to help you get where you are — don’t forget to do the same. Invest in your promising team members by serving as their mentor. Give them a leg up with advice, professional development opportunities, and most importantly of all, your time and attention.
While most of the benefits are enjoyed by the mentee, but some studies show that bosses who put in the effort to mentor that inferiors were often rated as better managers as a result.
