Tips for first time Managers

So you’ve just moved in to your very first managerial position! You are feeling excited and enthusiastic…but you also notice a sense of anxiety and apprehension. You know that as a Manager you will be pushed out of your comfort zone and this is a little daunting.

As a Manager you are not only responsible for yourself but you are accountable for the performance and the output of your entire team.

Firstly, it is absolutely normal to have a mixture of feelings even if this new opportunity is what you’ve worked hard for and have wanted for a very long time.

So I thought I would outline some tips for first time Managers, certainly the tips below could also apply to the seasoned Manager as well.

To begin with, learn to take care of yourself:

• Build your self-awareness, be authentic in your behaviour and action.
• Recognise your emotional triggers to things such as stress, complex personalities and difficult situations.
• Create strategies for stress management and emotional resiliency.
• Find a mentor for the benefits of getting fresh insights, wisdom and learning from their experiences and being a good sounding board for ideas.

Secondly, learn to take care of your newly acquired team:

• Leading by example, your team will look to you for guidance and support. Even if they don’t overtly ask for it. Set a good example by conducting yourself in a manner that you would like your team to follow.
• Create an environment of trust and openness with your fellow team members by being transparent yourself. Allow for vulnerability by showing vulnerability.
• Invite constructive input by building a collective culture.
• Set clear expectations through open dialog.
• Get to know each member of your team, understand their career goals and aspirations. Provide productive feedback on a regular basis that helps them on their journey.

Lastly, this is such cliché and yet there is substance to the statement ‘trust the process!’ so I say, trust the process!  You’ve been selected to be a Manager because you’ve displayed a fine balance between your technical skills and your ability to manage people. Understand that feeling excited and a little overwhelmed at the same time is O.K!