10 Top Tips for New Managers

Congratulations! You’re now a manager. How do you feel? Elated? Excited? Proud? Apprehensive maybe? Determined to be a success? Well these 10 top tips are designed to ensure that you are a success.

1. Be clear about what a manger does and do it! It’s a major change for you. When you look back you’ll find it’s probably the biggest. Your job is still about getting results but from now on you’re going to be reliant on your team. Your success depends on their success. Your key role is getting the best out of each individual and building a strong and effective team. You need to know how to do this.

2. Know where your strengths lie and what your development needs are – one of which will almost certainly be how to lead and manage people. Do some self-analysis. Get feedback from others. Ask why you were given the job. What did your manager see in you? Put your own development plan in place. Set yourself goals for learning and improvement.

3. Be absolutely clear about what your boss expects from you. Understand what’s important to him/her and ensure you develop a positive working relationship.

4. Get to know your people. Everyone is different. Respect those differences. Find out what motivates them and play to their strengths not their weaknesses.

5. Give respect and get respect. Don’t belittle people in front of others. Be honest and act with integrity. Lead by example and treat people as you would want to be treated. If you give respect you’ll get respect. People are loyal to those they respect.

6. Manage performance. People need to know what is expected of them and why. (Just like you do.) Set clear objectives. Review progress and give feedback regularly. Take time out to coach and develop your people. Recognise and reward good performance. Deal with underperformance or poor behaviour firmly but fairly. Tolerating underperformance is one of the quickest ways of undermining your credibility and de-motivating the rest of your team. Be prepared to make tough decisions if a person won’t or can’t improve.

7. Don’t do try and do everything yourself. Reward your best and brightest by delegating responsibilities. This will help develop them and give them greater job satisfaction. Rely on your people. Use their knowledge and experience to help make decisions or solve problems.

8. Communicate, communicate, communicate! Keep people in the picture. Your team. Your boss. No-one likes nasty surprises, least of all your boss! Keep people up to date with what’s happening in the business and how it affects them and their job. And listen to your team. Get their input. They’re closer to the sharp end than you are.

9. Surround yourself with the best people. You can train people for skill but you can’t train for personality. Make sure the people you hire are the best fit for the job. If possible hire people who are better than you. And welcome them into the business. Give them an induction plan to get them up to speed quickly. Make them feel that they have made the right decision to join you.

10. Never stop learning. The world is changing faster than ever. You need to stay ahead of the changes if you are to be successful.