Starting strong: 6 tips for first-time managers

After all the early mornings, long days, and hard work, you’ve finally been promoted to a management position within your organization.

This comes with added responsibilities and expectations, different from previous positions. How do you create success in your new position?

Here are six effective leadership strategies for first-time managers during their first year on the job.

1. Clearly defined goals: for you and your team

As you begin a new role in a management position, it is important to begin with an end in mind. Have a clear sense of where you hope this role will take you, what you hope to accomplish, and how you are going to help your organization.

Not only will you decide your personal goals, but you will also be setting goals for your team. Align these goals with your organization’s objectives, and communicate effectively to make sure your team understands what the goals are and the process you’ll all take to get there. If you involve your employees in setting goals for themselves as well as the group, they are more likely to remain committed to reaching them.

2. Hone your professional persona

A new manager must be able to draw a distinction between their social and professional selves in order to maintain the boundaries that support their authority. It’s a matter of finding a balance between being liked, but also respected, in the office. One difficult transition may be becoming a leader over coworkers who were once your peers. Consider addressing the elephant in the room by sitting down with your department as a team or individually. Address the fact that the situation may be awkward and unfamiliar, and set the tone for the relationship. If you create or allow close personal friendships with your subordinates, you may struggle as a manager, as it could become difficult to evaluate people accurately and give constructive feedback. You should connect with members of your team in a caring, human way, but ultimately in a way that helps you all focus on the work.

As you take on a management role, your behavior will be noticed by superiors, peers, and direct reports. The professional image you portray will define their perceptions of your competence and character. Research has shown that some of the most favorably regarded traits of a professional are trustworthiness, caring, humility, and capability.

3. Set priorities

During the first 6 months to a year in a new position, managers will spend a considerable amount of time establishing their agenda, goals, and priorities. A typical management agenda may include:

• Determining performance expectations for you as an individual, as well as your team.
  
• Understanding company and department strategy, mission, short and long-term goals, and key Initiatives.
• How to complete each year under the budget – Set project budget, project costs that will accrue; determine the costs of people, equipment, suppliers or materials; track deviations from this plan.
• Get to know your team and encourage them to get to know each other better, as well – learn communication styles and encourage regular updates.
• Look for current roadblocks or business problems you can fix — to show you can get things done and inspire the team.

4. Build a network

Managers should allocate significant time and effort to develop a network of relationships with the people needed to help accomplish their set agendas. This network building should involve more than just the direct team and subordinates. First-year managers should develop cooperative relationships with peers, clients, and upper management.

The best time to make these connections is when you do not need anything from them, so new managers should set informal lunch meetings and start networking early.

5. Delegate

The ability to wisely and effectively delegate is a quality that is crucial to a leader’s success. During the first year, successful managers will learn how to make the transition from doing to delegating. Managers who are willing to delegate create more time for the high-level, strategic parts of their job, allowing them to accomplish their objectives.

Delegating without micro-managing can also help increase the confidence and productivity of their team. Allow your direct reports to handle the delegated tasks on their own, but be available to offer assistance when asked.

6. Mentor

Research from the Center for Creative Leadership shows that mentoring not only benefits the mentees, but also the manager or mentor who is leading. Managers who provide career-related mentoring to their direct reports through coaching and challenges are rated as better performers. Managers in a mentoring role may:

• Learn new things from a younger professional who has spent more time in a specific industry.
  
• Experience the self-confidence of being able to share professional knowledge.
• Develop stronger leadership and management skills.
• Build additional professional relationships.
• Give back to the industry.

Your first management job is a big accomplishment—it shows that you have worked hard in your career. Your first management position may also be a little overwhelming, and it is important to be prepared for the demands of this new opportunity.

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