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Critical Must Do For New Managers

Being a “new” manager is both an exciting time and one filled with worry. You have reached the position that you have been striving to get for sometime. Worked hard and now you have reached where you think you want to be. Exciting times ahead.

17999014_sNervous times are ahead as well. Will I do a good job? Will my team respect me? Will I be able to make the right decisions? There are so many questions. So much that you will have to learn and master in order to do a good job.

I have had the pleasure of being a “new” manager in new situations many times in my career. When I had the pleasure of training or sharing my experiences with other “new” managers – there was one piece of advice that I always started with….

You are their manager now… You are in a leadership role… You must make sure that you focus on understanding that you have to always be in an uncompromising position. You must maintain a distance from your team. You must not get too close to anyone or all of your team. You will need to be fair to all. You may have to deliver a difficult message to one or all.

How can you make this happen?

  • Develop a solid and trusting working relationship. The main focus is always on work. What the team needs to be successful. What each individual member of the team needs to be successful.
  • Get to know your employees. What is important to them. What they really like to do in work and outside of work. Have an complete understanding, as much as they will let you, to insure that you can relate to your team individually.

The number one question that I have gotten over the years about not getting too close is, “the team is going out for happy hour. Should I attend?” My answer is sure why not? It is okay to socialize with your team. My standard rule of thumb is – go out have a drink and stop by and say hi to each person. Drink done, say thanks and bye. Don’t get too close that could put you in an uncompromising position.

The danger of getting too close is your team will take advantage of that. I have seen it all to much in my career.

Image via – Copyright: vesnacvorovic / 123RF Stock Photo

Published inNew To Management

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