Are you a New Manager? Or a Manager in a new position or company? Your new position comes with a lot of responsibility but if you take heed to the below advice your sure to be headed in the right direction.
- Be Patient. You don’t have to change the world right away. Take the first 6 months as an opportunity to learn. Learn the culture, learn the people, and learn the processes. There’s a reason people and teams do the things they do. Do your best to understand those reasons before you try to implement change. You can’t fix what you don’t understand so take time to understand the position and the environment that you are in.
- With Trust Comes Support. You’ll gain support and you’ll get a lot further when your team trusts you than when they don’t. I’ve had a few bosses in my career and I can say the ones that have succeeded are the individuals that showed they were trustworthy. Their direct-reports didn’t have to worry about hidden motives because they were open and honest with their plans and actions. They succeeded because with trust comes support. You can’t underestimate the value of a team that supports you. They will go to the ends to make sure you succeed because if you succeed ultimately they succeed.
- Sell The Goal. Your goals don’t have to be a secret. As a matter of fact it’s actually better to have clear open goals that everyone is aware of. As a new manager it’s important to set realistic goals and get the buy-in from not only your boss but also your employees. If you’re all aiming for the same goal you are less likely to have friction. Remember though your leading the boat, your direct-reports are the individuals rowing that boat. If they are rowing in a different direction, than where you want to go, you’ll get nowhere. Sell the goal to them. Let them know the importance and benefits of the goal and the role they play in getting there. They should feel included in the process.
- Listen. You have to listen to your team in order to really get to know them. Don’t just let things go in one ear and out the other. Your direct-reports should feel like they can come to you and be heard and understood. When I say listen I don’t just mean listen to business related things. You must know your employees on a personal level. What are their likes and dislikes, how are their family, etc. With trust comes loyalty and openness. If your direct report feels they are heard they are more likely to contribute ideas and be honest with you. Don’t just say you have an open door policy but listen and show genuine care and empathy.
- It’s Lonely At The Top. Yes, it is lonely at the top. Before you were a manager you were able to be-friend your co-workers. Maybe go out for drinks or daily lunches. Well all that goes out the window once you are promoted or enter a new role. Group lunches quickly turn into solo lunches. You’re no longer part of the inside jokes, and people just wont be as open with you. Don’t let this get to you. Seek out other managers that you can befriend.
For more career advice visit Corporate Minority career insights.
Author,
JoeSandra Odunze
Founder, Corporate Minority
