Tips for New Managers

Management is the goal that many people strive for. Getting into a management position is a sign of hard work and success. However, the work doesn't stop once you've finally hit the vaulted position.

Management takes work and a dedication to leadership, especially if you want to succeed. Here are a few tips to help new managers get started, improve their game, and carry their team to success.

Delegation is Key

It isn't uncommon for new managers to feel like they need to hoard all the work. For many, it feels like the only way to ensure the job is done correctly is to do it themselves. However, this is faulty logic that can quickly fail.

A manager must know when (and when not to) delegate. This means knowing when a task can be handed off to another team member and knowing when a manager should exclusively handle a task.

Get to Know Your Team

A good manager knows their team. Not just on a personal level, but their strengths and weaknesses. This allows the manager to assign tasks accordingly, allowing people to lean on their strengths. It also enables managers to help their team improve, giving them new opportunities and skills.

Knowing your team has many other benefits. A team that knows their manager (and vice versa) is more likely to trust them and their decisions.

Communicate Often and Well

The role communication plays in a business cannot be overstated. It's the driving force behind every company - the thing that connects us all. Naturally, this means that communication often and well is critical.

As a manager, communication will often fall to you. Get comfortable sending daily or weekly updates, keeping your team in the loop, and giving/receiving feedback. All of this will become second nature with enough time and practice.

Focus on the Big Picture

It's far too tempting for managers to focus on the little things, in other words, to micromanage. This is a mistake. First, it shows your team that you don't trust them to handle even the simplest tasks. Second, it wastes everyone's time, yours included.

A more efficient way to handle things is by focusing on the big picture. While you work on obtaining the larger image, your team can focus on the smaller details, supporting the end goal as a unit.

Adopt a Growth Mindset

What is a growth mindset, and how does one adopt it? A growth mindset is a belief that people can improve at work. A manager with this mindset will focus on helping their team improve.

Having a growth mindset works in two ways. First, it encourages growth within your team, which ultimately promotes success. Second, it encourages you to continue learning and growing. It's a win for everyone involved.

Remember It's Okay to Make Mistakes

Mistakes happen. New managers must remember that they are still learning, which means they will make mistakes, especially in the beginning. Instead of being hard on yourself about a mistake, take the lesson to heart. Learn from what happened to help prevent it from happening again.

Finally, remember that you're not the only person making mistakes. Your team will make mistakes too. Ideally, they won't happen often, but they will happen. Use these mistakes as an opportunity for a teachable moment. Encourage your team to work around whatever happened rather than exploding inappropriately at them.

Ask for Feedback

The best way to improve in any situation, not just management, is to get feedback. However, people aren't always readily inclined to offer feedback to their new manager. Take it upon yourself to ask for feedback and listen to what is said. Remember that you can also approach other managers within your organization for feedback, as they will offer different insight than your team.