7 Tips for the First Time Managers to Succeed at Work

We all work to accomplish well in our careers. Isn’t it? However, there are some who successfully make their way up the ladder to get their desired management positions. ‘With Power comes Great Responsibilities’; this seems to be apt for managers. It looks mesmerizing to lead a team of people; however, it is more challenging than managing your individual tasks. This is where you need to learn how to become a good manager and lead a ‘happy’ team. Today’s competitive job scenario demands them to do more with less.

For the first-time managers, it can be an overwhelming experience and a positive transition to growing further. The new role demands you to perform in everything- mentoring, communicating, listening and motivating. Therefore, to help the newbie managers excel in their new roles and ensure a smooth transition, here are a few tips:

1. Understand the business and its requirements

For any new role, particularly a position where you get a team, it is vital that you understand what the business expects from you. Unless you are sure about your business requirements, it is not possible to make your team work for the common objective. Hence, study what is happening across the division, so that you can make correct decisions whenever required.

2. Set an example

Through the times- good or bad, you looked up to your supervisors for mentoring and learned several things that made you move up the career ladder. Now, this is the time to mentor your team and lead by example. Do what you expect your subordinates to do. This way, not only your direct reports respect you, but they also see you as their role model. After all, now you have an additional responsibility of finding the next future managers.

Also Read: 8 Ways to Keep Your Team Spirit High

3. Learn to delegate

The new role requires you to learn delegation. Once you move into the shoes of a manager, saving all the tasks for yourself is setting yourself up for failures. Don’t think that you will be praised for being a ‘one-man army’, therefore, don’t keep too much on your plate. A manager should keep most of his/her time for the things that need immediate attention to support the organization’s strategic goals, bigger projects or new responsibilities. The delegation also helps your team to learn new things and lead on your behalf, whenever required. Therefore, rely on the capabilities of your team and give them an opportunity to share your tasks. Remember, effective delegation is one of the important leadership skills.

4. Learn to prioritize your work

Once you have been assigned additional responsibilities, it becomes crucial to learn how to prioritize your work. Your boss would want you to take part in important meetings, while your direct reports might need your attention on several issues. In such situations, don’t feel lost; rather learn to prioritize the things according to their importance. One of the easiest ways to do this is by maintaining a ‘to-do list’ and scheduling different tasks as per their urgency.

Also Read: Dealing with 7 Time Management Mistakes

5. Practice active listening

When you are managing a team, you are not limited to your own work roles. You have to manage the work of your team as well. In doing this, communication plays a crucial role. A manager should know how to communicate with his team that involves listening to their queries, giving timely feedback and promoting a two-way communication. Being a manager doesn’t mean that only you can speak. Active listening keeps you approachable to your team and solves their issues.

6. Focus on learning and development

Getting promoted to the next level doesn’t mean that you have reached the heights of your career. Remember, success is a continuous learning process. Therefore, if you wish to remain consistent in your work, focus on learning and development. Learning in your field of work also keeps you abreast of industry trends and helps you perform better in your role.

Also Read: Here’s the Secret to How You Can Accelerate Your Career Progression

7. Be patient

The proverb, ‘Rome was not built in a day’, stands true here. However skilled you are, it takes a good deal of time to adjust to a new role. Don’t panic if you see the things are not going as per your expectation. Be patient and use the above-mentioned tips to build the new skills.

Here’s a list of mistakes every manager should avoid

-- Don't pretend you know all the answers  (don’t be over-confident)

-- Don't take all the credit yourself, instead share the spotlight with your team (it’s always team work)

-- Stop bragging about how perfect your work is or how busy you are (remember, you are not doing everything)

-- Don’t show-off your new position and workload (no one likes to work with such a colleague)

-- Don’t expect your team members to be perfect (they are also learning and commit some mistakes)

-- Focusing only on your subordinates’ mistakes instead of recognizing good work (motivating them increases work productivity)

All the best!

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